Chapter 6: Many Reasons why God orders things in his providence so, as his beloved should be under sore afflictions in this world

BUt though it be true, that the Devil and world are malicious; yet, does not God rule over all? why then will God suffer his beloved ones thus to be troubled and afflicted?

Answ. Psalm 97:1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; it is well for us that the Lord reigns, or else his people could never stand before the rage of the world, and Devil; one or two wolves, were able to devour a flock of sheep, what then would many wolves do amongst sheep, if there were not an over-ruling hand? but as Psalm 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you, the remainder of wrath shall you restrain; God suffers, and orders this so, that he might turn all to his own praise. For,

First, sometimes by this means, he scatters his people abroad in the world to disperse his truth, to spread his Gospel further then otherwise it would be; as Acts 8. 3, 4. it is said, Saul made havock of the Church, haling men and women, committing them to prison, therefore they that were scattered abroad, went every where preaching the Word; according to the prophesie of Daniel, chap. 12:4 prophesying of the times of the troubles of the Church, he says, Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Secondly, this God suffers for the manifestation of his glorious power, and that four ways,

First, in the continuing of his Church, and the profession of his truth, notwithstanding all the rage of men and devils; Gods power was seen in preserving the bush from being consumed, though it were all on a light fire: to preserve a spark of fire alive, in the midst of the waves of the sea, and to keep a light set up, in the midst of storms and tempests, is a great work; there appears as great a power of God, in preserving his Church in the midst of so much opposition, notwithstanding their grievous afflictions and persecutions, as there did appear in the preservation of the three Children in the fiery furnace. Eliah would have water poured upon the sacrifice, he would have it covered with water, that the power of God might more appear in the fire that came down from Heaven upon it; so God will have afflictions, persecutions, troubles, to befal his people, that he may manifest his power so much the more in their preservation.

Secondly, the power of God appears not only in the upholding, but in the raising the spirits of this servants in their afflictions, with what courage, holy magnanimity, heavenly chearfulness that appears in them: even weak women and children, triumphing over the most sore afflictions, and grievous distresses, which made a Heathen, one Calocerius beholding this, break forth with this acclamation, Of a truth, great is the God of the Christians! Bernard says, Those whom God frees from troubles, have experience how sweet the Lord is; and those whom he exercises with many troubles, have experience how strong the Lord is. The glory of Gods power is as clear in the raising the spirits of his servants in suffering, as if he should deliver them from suffering by miracle. And therefore Rupertus says, that God did more gloriously triumph in St. Laurence his patience and constancy when he was broiled on the Gridiron, then if he had saved his body from burning by a miracle.

3. The power of God is glorious, not only in preserving his Church, in raising the spirits of his servants in their greatest afflictions, but in increasing his Church by them: if it be a wonder to be upheld in them, it is much more to be encreased by them; the more we are cut down, the more still we are, says Tertullian. The Church never grew so fast, as when it was under most affliction. Sulpitius says of the Christians in the primitive times, that they then were as greedy of Martyrdom, as in his time men were greedy of Bishopricks. The blood of Martyrs was the seed of the Church. Pliny reports of the lilly, that it is increased by its own juyce that drops from it: so the Church which is the lilly that grows among the thorns, the very blood that falls from them, multiplies them; the sufferings of one begets many to the love of the truth. Mr. Knox in his History of Scotland, reports of a Gentleman one John Lindsay, familiar to Bishop James Bettoun, that he said to the Bishop upon the occasion of the burning of Mr. Patrick Hamilton, My Lord, if you burn any more, you will destroy yourselves; if you will burn them, let them be burnt in hallow cellars, for the smoak of Mr. Patrick Hamilton has infected as many as it blew upon. It is a report of one Cecilia a Virgin, that by her constancy and exhortations, before and at her Martyrdom, was the means to convert four hundred people. By blood and prayer the Church converts the whole world, says Luther.

Fourthly, God shows the glory of his power, in doing such great things as he does, by a few afflicted, distressed, persecuted, contemptible people: The greatest things that ever God has done in the world, have been by these: the more afflicted, the more mean and despised they have been, the more has the arm of the Lord appeared in them. Gods power is made perfect in weakness, 2 Cor. 12. What great things has God done by a few afflicted, persecuted fishermen, the Apostles? What great things by St. Paul? who many times had not rags to cover his nakedness; who was whipped up and down, and put into stocks, and counted the basest and vilest of men, the very off-scouring of men, and the filth of the earth: and yet never were such great things done in the world, by those who had the greatest learning, the most power, the most valor, the most glory in the world, as was done by these; they did even subdue the world unto them, and that by preaching the Gospel, a Doctrine so above nature, so contrary unto nature. Chrysostom in a Sermon upon the 10. of Matthew, speaking concerning this argument, calls forth Plato, and Pythagoras, and the rest of the Phylosophers, and challenges them to show what they had done in comparison of these. But because some might say that amongst the Heathens there have been most famous Captains, who have done great things, as Themistocles and Pericles: If you compare, says he, what they have done, with what has been done by these poor fishermen, all their bravest acts will appear but childes plays, and the enterprizes of simple men.

Thirdly, that which God aims at, is the tryal of the graces of his people: an afflicting condition is a trying condition: Hence, Dan. 11:35 Some shall fall and be tryed: This is a prophesie of the times of the Maccabees under Antiochus Epiphanes: in the 11. Heb. we have the History of this, where verse 36. we have the like expression: others had tryals of cruel mockings and scourgings: We read of Queen Elizabeth in her sister Queen Maries days, when she was locked up close in the prison, at first she was much daunted, but after she brake forth into this speech, The skill of a Pilot is unknown, but in a tempest; the valor of a Captain is unseen, but in battel; and the worth of a Christian does not appear, but in time of tryal and temptation. Fire tryes mettals what dross is in them; strong winds, storms, and tempests, try what our foundation is, whether we be built upon the rock, or upon the sands: they discover what sap the leaves have from the root; withered leaves when the wind rises, fall off, the green leaves that have sap holds on: they try what soundness is in us: if you hang heavy weights upon the boughs of trees that are rotten, they presently break, but if upon sound, they bear them: hard weather tryes what soundness and health there is in the body; so afflictions and troubles, what soundness the Spirit has. Wooden or earthen vessels, if they be set to the fire empty, they are soon riven, and break, but not when they are filled with liquor: so empty hearts, when they feel the heat of afflictions, they soon break, but if filled with grace, and the comforts of the holy Ghost, they hold sound. When a mans cloaths are on, the deformities of his body cannot be seen: but when he is stripped naked, then all appears. In Summer time, when the trees are covered with leaves, you cannot see the knots, and rifts, and mossiness of the tree; but in winter when the leaves are gone, then you may see all. Hence the Hebrew word that is used for Winter, comes from a word, that signifies disgrace and shame, because winter takes away the glory and beauty of the earth, and puts a kinde of shame and disgrace upon it. The deformities and distempers of mens hearts, are much discovered in the winters of their affliction: although there was much glory and beauty on their profession before, yet now they appear most vile and base. We read Luke 2:35 That Christ was appointed for the fall of many, and for a rock of offense, that is, in regard of the sufferings that should follow upon the profession of the Gospel: and mark what God aims at in this, it is that the thoughts of mens hearts might be revealed; there are many secret thoughts, secret haunts of evil in mens hearts, secret windings and turnings of mens spirits, that are not revealed until then: when the cause of God, and our own ends come in competition, when they must part one from the other, then is the tryal what we are: as when a serving-man follows two Gentlemen, you know not whose he is, until they part one from the other: as we read Ezek. 21:21 the King of Babylon stood at the parting way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; the best divining of men, is at the parting way: although the times of afflictions, in regard of the darkness of them, one way be called the night of afflictions, yet they have light in them, and may be called a day, in regard of the discovery they make of a man what he is. In prosperity a man is apt to judge amiss of himself, not only because ignorance deceiveth the mind; but because of the present contentment he has, he is unwilling to be disquieted with any thoughts of disparagement: Adversity though it be a hard Tyrant, yet it is a true Judge; though it speaks roughly, yet it speaks truly.

We read Deut. 8:2 that God led his people through the wilderness to humble them, and to prove them, and to know what was in their hearts: God knew before, but he would make themselves and others to know. I read of Nazianzen, walking by the Sea shore, seeing how the sea wrought in a storm, that it cast up light and empty things, but not things solid and heavy; he applies this to afflictions, and says, that light and empty spirits are tossed up and down by them, and keep not their constancy; but solid spirits are like the rock that stands firm, and abides the same: men do not know their own hearts, they finde their hearts otherwise when troubles come, then ever they thought before; they never thought they had had so much pride, so much impatience, so much unbelief; they thought before they could have submitted to the hand of God, that they could have born more then is now upon them with patience and meekness; but now they finde their wretched hearts murmure, repine, fret, vex; now they finde corruptions stir exceedingly: they had thought they could have depended upon God in straits; but now they finde their hearts sinking, they finde they have base shifting hearts. When the fire comes to green wood, there comes out abundance of watery stuff that was not discerned before; so when the fire of affliction comes, much evil runs out that you saw not, that neither you nor others thought to be in your hearts before. When a Pond is empty, then appears the mud and the filth, and Toads in the bottom: so when God empties men, when he takes from them his blessings, then much filth, many crawling lusts appear that did not before: sometimes more grace appears in afflictions then did before: some of Gods people are low in their own eyes, they suspect and fear themselves, they think their graces will fail them in trouble, that their peace is false; yet when it pleases God to bring them into trouble, they finde more peace, more assurance, more strength then ever they did before, or then they thought they should have done; never such sweet joy, never such full assurance, never such use of faith, and patience, and love, as in the sorest and strongest afflictions. This indeed is very rare, there are few that finde more good in their hearts in afflictions, then they thought they had before; but where this is, it may be a sweet seal to the soul, of the sincerity of it ever after. When Corn stands in the field we may guess what it may yield, but we cannot know fully, till it come to the flail, and then it yields sometime more, though often less then we made account of. When grapes come to be pressed, then is discerned what is in them.

Fourthly, an afflicted condition gives opportunity for much exercise of grace, it calls forth whatever grace there is in the heart to the exercise of it. Rev. 13:10 St. John speaking of the sufferings of the Saints, Here (says he) is the faith and the patience of the Saints; here is matter for their faith and patience to be exercised about, this calls for the working of their faith and patience; and so for other graces, as humility, self-denyal, love to God. Physick stirs up natural heat, and makes it active; so afflictions the souls Physick. What mighty prayers, and lively stirrings of spirit are there many times in afflictions? Esay 26:16 They pour out a prayer, when your chastening was upon them: our prayers do but drop out before, now they are poured out, and one work of heart do's so follow another, that there is no intermission, it is all but one prayer they have poured out, not prayers, but a prayer; and it is observable, the word that here is translated prayer, is a word that is used for inchantment [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] because such words were conceived to be full of efficacy, containing much in a little room. So the prayer now is not an empty thing, but full of efficacy, containing much in a few words. The graces of Gods Spirit are the most lovely things in the world in Gods eyes, and therefore God delights much to see the exercise of them. When spices are beaten, then they send forth their fragrant smell; so when Gods servants are in afflictions, then their graces send forth their sweetness, in the activeness of them: when the box is broken, and the precious oyntment is poured forth, then it sends forth its delightful savour; so when the heart is broken with afflictions, and the grace is poured forth, then they give a sweet smell in the nostrils of God and men. A tool that is daily used, is kept bright and shining; and so grace, when it is most exercised, it it is most beautiful: The glory of the things of the world minishes in the use of them, but grace is ever better for the wearing.

Fifthly, in afflictions the power of grace does much appear; the abiding strong against opposition, is a true argument of strength: this was the honor of Josephs strength in his blessing, Gen. 49. 23, 24. The archers have sorely grieved him, yet his bow abode in strength. It is nothing for a man to go on in the profession of Religion, while all things are well about him, while he feels no trouble, but God hedges about his way: if God should always prosper his people in outward things, who would not be a professor of godliness? When the people saw how Mordecai was raised, then many became Jews. I read of one Pamachius a Heathen, that he said to the Pope, Make me a Bishop, and I will be a Christian. Every bird can sing in fair sun-shine weather: but here is the power of grace, not to be offended in Christs sufferings: Blessed are they who are not offended in me, says Christ, to desire to know nothing, but Christ and him crucified: To embrace Christ in his rags, in his poverty, in his shame, in his afflictions and sorrows; this argues a power of grace indeed: it argues the power of love, that much water cannot quench it. It is a note that Josephus has, writing the History of the time of Christ; At that time, says he, Jesus a wise man did many miracles, and although he was condemned to the cross, yet did not those that followed him from the beginning forbear to love him, notwithstanding the ignominy of his death; He notes it is an argument of great love in his followers, as it was indeed, that they did not forbear to love, notwithstanding his ignominious death. As it is a sign our love to sin is strong, when we have many afflictions to quench our love, when we meet with much trouble and opposition in a way of sin, and yet our love to it is not abated; so it argues our love to God and godliness is very strong, when the greatest opposition cannot prevail against it: to account Christ precious as a tree of life, although we be fastened to him as to a stake to be burned, this is love indeed. It was the glory of Scipio, in which he much boasted, that there was not any of his Soldiers, but would venture his life for him, if it were to leap into the Sea, to cast themselves from a high Tower, or any other way that he should require of them, this argued their strong love to him; and it is the glory of the Lord in which the Lord delights, that he has a people whose hearts are closely knit to him, in the most afflicted distressed condition that can befal them, who are content to suffer any thing for him, to submit to his blessed will, to honor him any way that he shal please, though it be in the loss of dearest comforts, and suffering the sorest and hardest afflictions.

Sixthly, by afflictions the graces of the Saints are much increased, as Israel never increased so much as when Pharaoh most oppressed; for two hundred and fifteen years before, they increased but to seventy; but in less time, when they were oppressed, they increased to more then six hundred thousand men fit for War, besides women and children: thus the spiritual increase of the true Israel of God is much in afflictions more usually then at other times. Gods people to whom afflictions are sanctified, never thrive so much in grace, as when they are watered with their own tears. The Rose is sweeter in the Still, then upon the stalk. Fish thrive better in cold and salt waters, then in warm and fresh: the largest fish are not in the fresh Rivers, but in the coldest salt Seas. The ground is most fruitful that is most harrowed. The most plentiful Summer, follows after the hardest Winter: The face of Religion is never so beautiful, as when it is washed with its own tears. The Walnut tree is most fruitful when it is most beaten: Camomel flourishes most, when it is most trodden on, and pressed down: suffering for truths does much confirm men in them; that which a man has bought at a dear rate, he is loath to part with: thus we finde it in men who suffer for errors, they are ever the more stiff in them: like the Merchants, holding up their commodity, because it cost them dear. All oppositions, if they do not overcome, they strengthen that which they do oppose: as water cast upon the fire, it makes that fire burn hotter, that it does not quench. Wind shaking the tree, makes it grow more steady. Thus the tribulations of the godly, and the persecutions they suffer, do oppose their graces, but because they cannot overcome them, they strengthen them: As we read Psalm 45. when the Church forsakes all, when she leaves her fathers house, and her kindred, then does the King greatly delight in her beauty, her beauty is great then, and exceeding delightful in the eyes of the Lord: Cant. 2:14 O my dove (says Christ to the Church) your voyce is sweet, your countenance is comely: let me hear your voyce, let me see your countenance: This is spoken of the state of the Church, after her deliverance from great afflictions, after her return from captivity; before her captivity she was loathsom and vile in Gods eyes; God hateth her, as appears, Jer. 12:8 Mine heritage is unto me as a Lyon in the forrest; it cryeth out against me, therefore I have hated it: but now she is delightful; Christ bids her arise his love, his fair one, and come away. God before cared not for her solemn meetings, they were a burden to him, as appears Esay 1. 11, 12, 13, &c. but now he expresseth his desire of their solemn meetings, O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rocks, in the secret places of the stairs, you who worshippest me in secret places, in holes and corners, let me see your face, let me see you assembled into the face of a Church in my Sanctuary; let me hear your voice, let me hear you there calling upon me, singingpraises unto me, Psalm 66:12 We went through fires, and through waters (says the Church) but you broughtest us into a wealthy place. Thus God deals with his Church spiritually, by bringing them through the fire and water of afflictions, he brings them to a wealthy place, a wealthy estate. The Church of Iudah before the Captivity, was as a Vine that brought forth wilde Grapes, upon whom the Lord resolved to command the clouds not to rain, and from whom he would take the hedge of his protection, Esay 5. but after the captivity he speaks otherwise of it, Esay 27. 2, 3. In that day sing ye unto her, a Vineyard of red wine (which was the best wine) now the Lord will keep it, and water it every moment. I have read of a Fountain, that at noon-day is cold, at midnight it grows warm: it is thus with many, they are coldest in their prosperity, and the nights of afflictions contract their heat, and intends it: fire never burns so hot as in frosty weather. The winter time of affliction, sometimes proves to be the most fruitful time of a Christians life; contrary to the work of nature, for all things seem dead then, and they flourish and grow only in the Summer; but a Christians Winter is sometime better then his Summer; grace flourishes and grows most in his Winter. Our Benoni's, sons of sorrow, prove oftentimes our best Benjamins, sons of our right hand: the best corn is that which lies under the clods in frost and snow; Paul rejoiced much in Onesimus, whom he had begotten in his bonds, Philem. ver. 10. Basil in his Sermon upon the forty Martyrs, calls them the stars of the world, the flowers of the Church. And Chrysostome upon Acts 12. speaking of those who were praying for Peter in the night, says, That they were made by afflictions more pure then the Heaven. And some of the Ancients, as Chrysostom and Salvian, have called afflictions the mother of Vertue. Manasses his chain was more profitable to him then his Crown. Hebr. 12:10 God is said to chastise his people for their profit, that they might be partakers of his holiness: God communicates of his own holiness unto the souls of his people by their chastisements, in a special manner: love is often encreased in affliction; sheep run together when the dog is set on them: after the Church was delivered from violent persecution, it suffered much by divisions, the very bowels were rent by their dissentions, it was then in a worse condition then before, the fire of their dissentions being worse then the fire of their persecutions; the one hindred, but the other furthered their growth. John 15:2 Every branch in me my Father purgeth, that it may bring forth more fruit: as Vines are made fruitful by pruning, so are Gods people by the pruning knife of afflictions; and hence it is, when the Lord has some great employment, some great service for any of his people, he first sends them unto, and trains them in the school of afflictions, as Joseph and David. And as our Benoni's, our sons of sorrows, that which we get out of our sorrows, proves oftentimes our chiefest Benjamins; so Gods chiefest Benjamins, whom he uses as the sons of his right hand in special services, are first Benoni's, sons of sorrow. There is a great deal of difference, says Luther, between a Divine in outward pomp, and a Divine under the cross. It is a rare thing to have any mans eyes opened as Jonathans were, by tasting of honey, by prosperity; but in afflictions many are: afflictions prove to them, as the clay to the poor mans eyes that gave him sight. They that are afflicted, do better understand Scripture, says Luther, but those who are secure in their prosperity, read them as a verse in Ovid. Amongst many others, this is one special means whereby an afflicted condition comes to be useful for the increase of grace, because in it the soul gains much experience; experience of God and of his ways, experience of the good there is in, and faithfulness of his word; as we read, Psalm 107. Those who go down into the Sea, see the wonders of the Lord; much more those who come into the seas of troubles and afflictions, how do they see the wonders of the Lord? they can tell their friends much of the wonders of the Lord towards them: so Israel in the time of trouble cryes out, Hos. 8:2 My God we know you; now we know you otherwise then before we did: and experience of the evil of sin. It was a speech of a Germane Divine in his sickness, Gasper Olevianus; In this disease I have learned how great God is, and what the evil of sin is, I never knew what God was to purpose before, nor what sin meant. When God spoke to Job out of the whirlwind, cap. 38. he answers, cap. 40. 3, 4. Behold, I am vile, what shall I answer you? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. And experience likewise of our weakness, and the vanity of the Creature more now then ever, Psalm 39:11 When you with rebukes doest correct man,you makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity, Selah: he can then say Surely, and that with a Selah, that every man is vanity. It is very observable, that of all the seven churches that Christ wrote unto, in the second & third Chapters of the Revelations, there are only two which he charges no evil upon; the Church of Smyrna, and the Church of Philadelphia: and these two were exercised with much trouble; as the Church of Smyrna, cap. 2:9 is said to have endured much tribulation, and to be in poverty, yet Christ commends her, and says she is rich: her poverty made her rich, her tribulations made her glorious in the eyes of Christ. And the Church of Philadelphia, cap. 3. 8, 10. she had but a little strength, she was in a low, poor, afflicted, contemptible condition; yet she denyed not the name of Christ, she kepe the word of Christs patience, that word for which she suffered much, being strengthened thereunto by the patience she received from Jesus Christ.

Seventhly, afflictions preserve from much sin, they are blessed preventing physick: our falls into sore afflictions, keep us from falls into sin. Hosea 2:6 God says, he will hedge the way of his people; if the hedge of the command will not keep us from transgression, it is a mercy for God to hedge in our way by another hedge, the hedge of afflictions, they are blessed stumbling blocks cast in the way of sin, to hinder us in it. I have read of Augustine, that once by wandring out of his way, he escaped one who lay in wait to mischieve him; it falls out so many times with us, if afflictions did not put us out of our way, we should fall into the power of some sin or other which would mischieve us. Gregory says of Solomon, that he left the house of wisdom, because the discipline of afflictions did not preserve him. Salt brine preserves from putrifaction: the salt marshes keep the sheep from the rot.

Eightly, by afflictions, decayed grace comes to be recovered: These are Gods files, that file off the rust of security. Physitians use to cure a Lethargy, by putting their patient into a feaver: the spiritual Lethargy of security, is often cured by hot and strong afflictions. When men are in a swound, we use to nip and pinch them, and strike them, and cast cold water upon their faces: Gods strokes, and the cold water of afflictions being sanctified by him, recover many from spiritual swounds: many who have so far decayed in their spiritual vigor and activeness, that they have seemed to be even dead, yet they have been recovered this way. Job 36:15 God opens their ears in oppression; many mens ears are clogged up with the world, but when God gives them up for a while to the oppressions of men, then their ears are opened. It is good for me, says David, that I was afflicted, for before I went astray, but now have I learned your word. In the 2. Hosea, God threatens the Church to strip her naked, and to set her as in the day that she was born, and to make her as a wilderness, to hedge her way with thorns; and thus the Lord did to that Church: but mark what he says shal be the fruit of all, verse 7. Then shall she say, I will go and return unto my first husband, for then was it better with me then it is now. When Absolom sent for Joab once and again, yet he came not unto him, until Absolom caused his corn fields to be set on fire, and then he comes: God speaks and calls to his people who are grown secure, once and again, but they neglect God, until God comes with the fire of afflictions, and then they come. Afflictions are like the prick at the Nightingales brest, that awakes her, and puts her upon her sweet and delightful singing. Gulielmus Parisensis says of Musk, when it has lost its sweetness, if it be put into the sink amongst filth, it recovers it; this he applyed to decayed grace in the times of afflictions, in afflictions it revives, and recovers.

Ninthly, afflictions are of great use to mortifie lusts, to purge out filth and corruption. Isa. 27:9 By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit thereof. When Physitians purge the body, they purge out that which is good, as well as that which is evill, but when God purges in the sanctified use of afflictions, he only purges out the evil, this is all the fruit thereof. As Aloes kills worms, so do bitter afflictions crauling lust in the heart. Cold and hard winters do destroy much vermine, which otherwise would be very noisom: so cold and hard afflictions vermine lusts. Violent storms and thunder clear the air, strong afflictions clarifie the heart; by them we are as it were poured from vessel to vessel, from whence the ill savour of our heart-distempers comes to be taken away. Ier. 48:11 Foul and stained cloathes are made white by laying abroad in cold frosty nights, so the defiled heart. Salt marshes purge rank humours, so do the saltness of afflictions rank lusts. Men let their armour lye rusting by them in the time of peace, but in the time of war they scour all bright, to make fit for service: so mens hearts in the time of peace grow foul, but in times of trouble, they are then cleansed. It is a great mercy to have the act of sin hindered; afflictions are very useful for this, and therefore, Hosea. 2:6 they are; as you heard, called a hedge of thorns; whereby the ways to sin are hedged up: but to have the inward lusts mortified, this is a greater good. All the Prophets preachings could not purge the Jews from idolatry, so as the Babylonish captivity: it is observed, never since that time have idols been found amongst them.

Tenthly, Gods people are often in an afflicted condition, as chastisements for their sins, they bring many evils upon themselves, by their loose walkings, by their indiscretions, by their pride, by their selfseeking, by their forwardness, by their wilfulness, and worldliness: God chastens even whom he loves: the Apostle tells the Corinthians, that they were chastened of the Lord, that they might not be condemned with the world. Those whom God would never condemn, yet he will chasten: God will have his children feel something of the evil of their sins, and will have them and others see how displeasing sin is to him, in the fruits of his displeasure, upon those who are his beloved ones, who are exceeding dear, and precious in his eyes: because the Lord is careful of his honor, therefore if his children sin, he will chastise them, hence the Greek word for chastisement, signifies care of honor. GODS children may come to be children under anger, though not children of wrath: yea God usually holds a more strict hand over his people, then over any, he quickly brings them under the rod, when he lets other go on, and rot in their sins; yet he comes not upon his children as a revenging Judge, to destroy the person for the sins sake: but as a gracious Father, to destroy the sin for the persons sake: he is angry that they have sinned, but especially angry that they might sin no more.

Eleventhly, that which God aims at in the afflictions of his people, is to make them conformable to Christ their head, that they may enter into their glory, as Christ did into his. Ought he not to suffer these things, and so to enter into his glory? Luke 24:26 We read of S. Paul, Phil. 3:10 that he earnestly desired to be partaker of the fellowship of Christs sufferings, and to be conformable to his death; God will have a conformity to the death of his Son. We read of Godfrey of Bulloin, that he would not be crowned in Jerusalem with a crown of gold, where Christ was crowned with a crown of thorns; because he would not have such a great disproportion between him and Christ. It is reported of Origen, when Alexander Severus the Emperor sent for him, he appearing to be meanly cloathed, there were divers costly garments prepared for him, and sent to him, but he refused them, and when he came near to Rome, there was a Mule and a Chariot sent for him, that he might choose which liked him best, but he refused them likewise, and would not go in pomp to the Emperor, saying, He was less then his Master Christ, of whom he never read that he rode but once.

Twelfthly, the afflictions of Gods people are in just judgement a rock of offense, and a stumbling block to the ungodly. Christ in regard of the afflictions that attend the profession of the Gospel, is said to be a rock of offense, and so appointed for the fall of many, Luke 2:34 How many thousands perish, because they are offended at the mean, afflicted, persecuted estate of Christ in this life? Your heart is set upon vanity and outward pomp, this persecuted estate of godliness is your stumbling block, at which God in his wrath lets you stumble, that you mightest fall, break your neck, and perish for ever: hence is that speech of Christ, Blessed are they that are not offended in me: O its a great mercy of God, not to let this be a stumbling block, it is a mercy that God grants but to a few; here and there a poor soul, who is able to see the beauty and glory of godliness, through all the dark clouds of troubles, afflictions, persecutious, that attend it: but for the generality of men, this is that which hides the glory of it from them, unto their everlasting perdition.

Lastly, Gods people are here afflicted, that Christ in them, and they in Christ, may in the conclusion of all be the more glorified.

First, in the overcoming of all evils, in the final destruction of all their enemies.

Secondly, in their happiness after so many evils endured: the bitterness of foregoing grief, commends the sweetness of following joys.

Thirdly, their afflictions work to the increase of their glory. 2 Cor. 4:18 Our light afflictions work for us an exceeding weight of glory. Gordius that blessed Martyr (whom St. Basil so much commends in an Oration of his) accounted it a loss to him, not to suffer many kindes of tortures; he says, that tortures are but tradings with God for glory.

Tertullian has an expression to that purpose, Thegreater the combates, the greater are the following rewards. Bernard says of persecuters, that they are but his Fathers goldsmiths, who are working to adde pearls to the crowns of the Saints. The seeds of happiness are sown in the deep furrows of affliction, and the deeper the furrows are, the more precious are the seeds that are there sown, and the more glorious and plentiful will the harvest be. When a curious glorious picture is to be drawn, the grounds use to be laid in black, but not in dirt: so our grounds may be laid here in afflictions, but let them not be laid in sin. Here then we see, that although afflictions are a bitter root, yet there spring from them fair flowers, and pleasant fruit: no marvel then though God has a hand in ordering things so, that his people should be in such an afflicted condition in this world: from Gods determining things to be thus, let us learn,