A Cordial for Christians in the Time of Affliction

To the Reader.

A S nothing in the world makes a man so truly noble as Religion: So nothing to the world makes a man more liable to opposition and dis grace. And our mighty God that governs in wisdom, and ever hath an especial care of his people, suffers that so to be for some such ends as these. 1 That the graces of God's Children may shine, the rust being scoured off. 2 That their incense offerings in their several duties being broken and beaten may smell the more. 3 That their obedience may be discerned by the purblind world not to be mercenary, but from some in ward principle unknown to nature, &c. Now for the poor persecuted Saints to follow this way of God's providence kindly to obey with a willing yielding 〈2 pages missing〉 rather then to be angry at them. They see only with a natural eye: If a man look upon GOD'S ways only with the eye of Reason they are foolishness to him; and sure if a man look upon GOD'S Word and Works through the false glass of worldly wisdom, he cannot but imagine the thing promised in the one and in agitation in the other impossible so to be effected as promised for his children's good. If a man had only so looked upon the Sun standing still in Hezekiah's time, or upon the Sea when the bottom became dry, and the waters stood as walls on each side; or upon the Stars that fought in their courses against Sisera: Or u • on the fiery Pillar which was sent to the Israelites, would they have thought these should be a means to preserve GOD'S children and destroy the Enemies. Little did Nebuchadnezzar the va • iant men of his army think when they bound the three children in their clothes to cast them into the hot fiery furnace that the same fire thus prepared should burn and destroy them, and burn only the bonds to set free the poor persecuted Saints not once to hurt either body or garment, but to be a means to bring them to greater honor amongst their Persecutors. O the infinite wisdom of our good GOD that can put such understanding into senseless creatures thus to distinguish between the precious and the vile, him that serveth GOD and him that serveth him not more clearly then the Devil and natural men can discern: Now therefore to clear the Eye of Faith which only discerns such things and to help thee to get support against any such Faintings or the least grumbling at such a providence, which is unbeseeming a Paul (though in Prison with sore sides) for Religion.

1. Se • Prayer a work, which works wonders in Heaven and earth, because that sets GOD a work for us that is the hearer of Prayers and that he • ps his servants out of several Persecutions and Afflictions when they pray by working wonders for them rather then they shall rest subject to continuail pressures of wicked men.

2. Set Faith a work, a hard duty I confess, it being easier to obey then believe aright. Faith being the work of GOD, Obedience without Faith being the work of man. Therefore let me entreat of thee to use the means that GOD affords, either to help thee out or comfort thee in affliction, as if thou hadst no promise: And yet so believe and depend u • on the promise for thy being helped out or upheld in the affliction, as if thou hadst no means at all to look after, that GOD may have all the honor from thee, and then certainly He that gives a being to his promises and a blessing to the means will prosper thee in the use of them: which of his Mercy he grant to us all for the LORD CHRIST'S sake,

A CORDIALL FOR CHRISTIANS IN the time of Affliction▪

I N the former part of this Chapter, the Prophet in the Person of the Church complains of the paucity of GOD'S people, of the fewness of those that truly fear GOD, First, by way of resemblance, comparing them to the gatherings of Summer, and the grape-gleanings of the Vintage, verse. 1. Secondly plainly, by saying the good man is perished out of the earth, and there is none upright amongst men, they all lie in wait for blood, they hunt everyone his Brother with a net, v. 2.

Secondly, he complains of the plurality of the wicked, of the horrible and universal corruption of the times. First plainly, That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the Prince asketh, and the Judge asketh for a reward, and the great man uttereth his mischievous desire, so they wrap it up, v. 3. Secondly, in a borrowed speech, resembling the best to a briar, to a thorny hedge- v. 4.

In the miserable estate of all things, it is the counsel of the HOLY GHOST not to trust in man, or to rely upon the arm of flesh, v. 5, 6. For the dearest, nearest, greatest, &c. will deceive and fail, and prove as broken staves of reed, Psal, 62. 9. The children of men are vanity, the chief men are liars: to lay them upon a balance, they are altogether lighter then vanity. But it is the LORD that doth great things, and therefore in him only rejoice, Psal. 126. 3. Also Ier. 17. 5. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and withdraweth his heart from the LORD. For why, Isa. 40. 15, 17. Behold the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the dust of the balance, behold he taketh away the Isles as a little dust, V. 17. All nations before him are as nothing, and they are counted to him less then nothing, and vanity; Thus doth the Prophet wish man not to trust in man, but in the LORD. And after this dehortation from trusting in man, the Prophet in the person of the Church, doth profess that he will look unto, and rely upon the LORD, v. 7. which blessed confidence, and safe repose upon the all-sufficient God, doth beget this glorious triumph over the insolency and insultation of their enemies in the time of their depression and disgrace, v. 8. And this excellent exercise of their faith, doth repel and conquer very sore and sharp temptations, which are wont to set upon the servants of GOD in their sufferings under the pressures and oppressions of the wicked, the cruel mockings and scornful insultations of the enemies to their goodness: Which is bitterer (saith Calvin ) then the suffering it self; Ne{que} tantum est acerbitatis in ipso malo, quantum in ludibrijs improborum, ubi nobis petulanter insultant, derident fidem nostram & ingenuis naturis semper est durior contumelia, quam ipsa mors.

Immediately upon the Churches profession of her trusting the LORD; she bids her enemies not rejoice against her, v. 8. and backs it with mighty and invincible reasons, which proves they have no reason for it.

If I were down without hope or possibility of recovery it were something on their side, but as sure as my GOD is all-sufficient, my head CHRIST above water, the Angels my guard, all the creatures my friends; Sun, Moon and the Stars for me, the prayers of all that blessed communion of my fellow Saints press continually for me unto the throne of grace, all the promises in GOD'S Book are in CHRIST Yea and Amen, &c. So certainly shall Jup again, sooner or later gloriously forever. Job was as deeply sunk into a comfortless pit of outward affliction as ever any was, yet the arm of his GOD helped him out again. We know what end the LORD made, I am. 5. 11. David was fearfully plunged into a dungeon of extreme horror, Psal. 77. Yet the right hand of the most high changed all this. And it must needs be so, for the Almighty hand of GOD is under him, Psal. 37. 24. though he fall he shall not be cast of, for the LORD putteth under his hand. Now must not he needs up again whom an omnipotent hand supports and upholds? What man or devil, or world of creatures can keep him down, whom the LORD of Heaven and Earth will raise, either let the malice of the wicked manacle the Almighty arm of GOD, which is more then utterly and infinitely unpossible, or as sure as that highest Majesty is in Heaven, every faithful servant of JESUS CHRIST shall rise again out of the most desperate distress, at the utmost, at that great day, which will be most illustrious, when their clearing and exaltation will be in the presence of all the Angels in Heaven, and all the sons and daughters of Adam that ever were in the face of Heaven and Earth: Is it not therefore strange that any wicked man should insult at their fall, that thus certainly shall rise; but the wicked themselves shall stagger and fall and rise no more, for they want this only helping hand to recover them.

Nay in the mean time in the darkest midnight of distress, the LORD will blessedly shine into my heart with the beams of his favor, sense of his love & presence of his Spirit; yea many times more gloriously, specially and comfortably, then in the days of my peace, prosperity and rest. For besides particular promises for that purpose, observe, Isa. 43. 2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, through the floods that they do not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the very fire thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flames kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD, &c. GOD'S children in the time of their afflictions and sufferings are wont to be most faithful, for then Faith is set a work only to find comfort in GOD. 2. Most prayerfull, Esa. 26. 16, 17. LORD in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them, Like as a woman in travail is in sorrow and crieth in her pains, so have we bens in thy sight O LORD; though they be prayerfull at other times, yet this sets an edge and heat to their Prayers. 3. GOD'S children in time of their sufferings be most humble, &c. and to such as be most faithful, prayerfull and humble GOD is wont to reveal and communicate himself with much familiarity and love, no restraint, no dungeon can hinder the ascending of our faithful, humble prayers unto GOD, nor the influence of the love and light of his countenance from us; that lightsomeness came from Heaven that made Paul and Silas sing at midnight in the inner-prison, their feet being fast in the stocks. And so did all those sweet exaltations of spirit which possessed our blessed Martyrs in Queen Mary's time and all other Saints of GOD at any other times, in times of pressure and persecution. For at such times the presence, freedom, and comforts of the blessed Spirit are wont to enlarge, refresh and crown their hearts extraordinarily.

Those that are enemies to the Church and GOD'S children were they in the same troubles they see the Saints of GOD in, would indeed yell and howl and roar having no protection nor antidote against the sting and venom of their sorrows and sufferings, and therefore they conceive, and thereupon out of their cruel and dung-hill dispositions insult, that Christians are paid home horribly and plagu'd in such cases, no knowing poor souls that the Saints have a sovereign inward virtue, and vigor, I mean, patience (to which themselves are mere strangers) whereby they take off the edge, and extinguish the poison of all afflictions, whether from GOD, man, or Satan, which would eat up the hearts, and drink up the spirits, and double the sting in the wicked, whensoever they are sore vexed; as if Mordecai a better man then Haman, do not crouch to him, it will not only vex his heart, but cause him to loose all that sweet of his honor. How would wicked men have taken it, that such a dog as Shimei should rail upon David being a King, and Kings you know are impatient at opposition, yet David's patience takes away the sting and spiritually answers, It may be the LORD hath sent him, observe how grace conquers, and that Faith in GOD'S children begets not only peace, but patience, Rom. 5. 3. We rejoice in tribulation, knowing that tribulation bringeth forth patience.

The wicked in their sufferings do look upon the smart and the creatures, as a dog upon the stone that is thrown. GOD'S children look upon the offense, their own deserts, and the first moover, GOD himself, who corrects in love and for his good, which causeth a vast difference either to exasperate and enrage, or to mollify and asswage the anguish of the cross, the bitterness of the trouble. Thus did Job, Joseph, David, and so did all that truly fear GOD procure a great deal of ease and patience to their souls, It is the LORD, &c. looking upon their own deserts, upon GOD'S kindness, and their ingratitude, &c. give some ease: As Maurice an Emperor who might have saved the lives of many of GOD'S people from the sword of the enemy, but did not; at length an enemy came against him, and took him, and killed his children before him, he having one little one at nurse it was sent for and also slain before his eyes, then he cried out being sensible of his own sins, Just are thy judgments O LORD. So holy Bradford in Queen Mary's time, cried out to the LORD that he had deserved to die, because of his sins; but saith he, Behold LORD they punish not my sins, but persecute me because of thy Gospel, and for standing for thy truth: So might all the Martyrs have said; so we may cry out we have sinned, we have been lukewarm, we have had a form of godliness & denied the power thereof. Nay prodigious villainies, we have had sins rise up in the Gospel, not before heard off, fitter for the dark nooks of hell, or midnight of Popery. How may we therefore cry out, now we all are afflicted, thy judgments O LORD are most just. The consideration of their deserts, and looking up unto the LORD caused Job, David and Eli to be contented.

GOD will cert • inely and forever plead the cause of his, Isa. 1 • . 5, 6, 7. Ashur was sent by GOD against the people of GOD, and was as the rod in GOD'S hand to correct them, but he thought not so, but that it was by his own strength, &c. Quoties nobis negotium est cum improbis, duo sunt consideranda. 1. Improbos nobis sine causa infer molestiam, & ideo justam esse causam nostram ipsorum respectu. 2. Nos tamen juste affligi divinitús; quia semper reperiemus multas causas cur Dominus nos castiget. So may many a one tell the LORD, that his sins are grievous towards him, But that his persecutors and oppressors aim not at, but at his best part, the good that is in him they set against, And therefore desire the LORD to plead their cause, But GOD will never plead the cause of the wicked, but will witness against them, and so will all his creatures, and their own actions help to condemn them.

Though the Church of GOD go down for a while; yet at last most certainly the day shall be theirs. For this purpose GOD is wont to imrpove his own Omnipotency, all the hosts of Heaven and Earth, the ordinary and extraordinary agency of his creatures, the Sun, the Sea, the Stars, Haylestones, &c. must miraculously serve GOD'S turn for the executing of this judgment for the Church. All the miracles of deliverances from the red Sea, and drowning the Egyptians, to the swallowing up of the Spaniards in the English Seas; and the deliverance from the powder-plot were employed this way, stay only GOD'S season and his own hour, and you shall see the salvation of GOD. As Rochell when it was besieged, was saved miraculously, and shame fell upon the opposers. So for us here, we or the Church beyond the Seas been delivered a year or two since, it had not been so well in the last of time; for that purpose GOD will certainly deliver, this is our hope, when Christians are stirred up to Prayer, the time is approaching, but howsoever in the best of time it shall be granted.

After the execution upon the enemies and the darkness of distress dispelled by the light of GOD'S countenance, ariseth upon the Church the Sun of lightsomeness, joy, and comfort, as we see in Moses song, Exod. 15. The song of Deborah, Judge. 5. The feasting of the Jews after the hanging of Hamon, the joy of the Kingdom after 88. The day of holy feasting for our Salvation from the Powder-plot; The LORD hath done great things for us, wherefore we are glad, Psal. 126. 3. And when the rod hath corrected, it shall be burned, when the fire hath purified the gold, it ends it self in sinder and ashes: So when the wicked have done their work for the good of Christians, they shall be consumed themselves, as the powder-Traitors were, for which we have a day, as if it were in imitation of Deborah's song.

In the merciful performance of his gracious promises unto his people, then shall the Church find and feel the truth of these blessed promises, Gen. 15▪ 1. & 17. 1. of the promise to Abraham and to his Seed. So Exod. 6. 3. Josh. 1. 5. How sweetly might Joshua refresh himself with the sense of GOD'S mercy and truth, in making good unto him that promise, Josh. 1. I will never fail thee nor forsake thee. The Jews with the sweetness of that, Habak. 2. 3. Though it tarry, wait for it, because it shall surely come and not stay, when they returned so merrily homewards, Ps. 126. Queen Elizabeth of that 1 Sam. 2. 30. Them that honor me I will honor, when the great GOD of arms, with his powerful arm had scattered like a heap of dust before the wind that mighty and (as they called it) invincible Spanish-fleet.

Now look back upon all these eight particulars and consider the contrary case of the wicked, and then observe the infinite vast difference between the grounds and reasons of comfort in all troubles in the one and the contrary in the other:

There are reasons also taken from the state of the enemies why they should not rejoice in the troubles of the Saints, and why the people of GOD should be patient in their pressures and persecutions.

When the Church is delivered then the enemy must down: when the rod in GOD'S hand hath corrected his children, it must be cast into the fire: When the wicked have refined GOD'S people, themselves must be cast into Hell: When GOD'S children have drunk of the top of the cup of GOD'S wrath, the wicked shall wring out the very dregs, and drink them, Psa. 75. 8. Esa. 10. 12. When Ashur had punished GOD'S people, and began to burst with pride, then GOD sets upon him and destroys him. But observe here the persecutors shall see the rising again and prosperity, which will burst their very heart with envy and make them gnash the teeth, as a piece and beginning of that hellish gnashing of the teeth hereafter, when they shall see those blessed ones, whom they have so hated and persecuted, sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the kingdom of Heaven and themselves excluded.

And at this sight she shall be horribly ashamed, especially because in the time of the Churches distress, disgrace, she did pestilently please and applaud her self with such insulting words as these ( where is now the LORD her GOD ) she is now down she will never rise again, and now she sees those over whom she so insulted, crowned with deliverance and joy, and her self covered with confusion and shame.

Which equally will rent the hearts of the enemies with self-vexing rage, as refresh the affections of GOD'S faithful children with glorious joy, not because their opposites are ruined; no such vile, revengfull spite must lurk in any gracious heart, but because thereby the glory of GOD'S mercy and truth to his, and his justice to their implacable and incurable enemies is made more illustrious and admirable.

Or as straw is trodden down for the dunghill, as it is, Isaiah. 25. 10. A fit end for such Devils, as had they might to their malice, they would swallow up quickly the whole Israel of GOD Psa. 124. 3. Since the Church of GOD sees and is so sensible of the scornful carriage of her enemies, and labors so industriously to fortify herself with reasons against that temptation of being troubled with their insultations in the time of her trouble; I observe it is the wont of the wicked to rejoice when they see GOD'S children down: Let this therefore be the point that first naturally doth offer it self.

It is the wont of the wicked out of their dunghill, dogged, and devilish dispositions, proudly to insult and bear themselves insolently against the servants of GOD in the time of their sufferings.

The wicked rejoice in the distress and disgrace of GOD'S children. Proofes for this you have, Ezek. 25. 3, 6. Because thou hast cried aha, and rejoiced and clapped thine hand when Israel went into captivity. Because▪ thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel. ergo Eze. 26. 2. Tyrus said against Jerusalem aha she is broken, Ezek. 36. 2. The Enemy said, Aha, the ancient high places are oursin possession, ergo, &c. Zepha. 2. 8. I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people and magnified themselves against their border, ergo, &c. Psa. 137. 3. They that carried us away captive, required of us a song, and they that wasted us, required of us mirth, &c.

Because they be limbs of Satan and he impoysons them with all his ill properties, now he infinitely triumphs and pleaseth himself in the disgrace of goodness, distress of the Church, and misery of every godly man, Affectus ex odio & gaudio mixtus (so the Greek word signifies) cum odio impulsi, laetamur vel gaudemus in aliorum calamitatibus, est affectus proprius Diabolorum: Propterea illi ipsi qui in aliorum calamitatibus laetantur ad ipsum Diabolum accedunt. And they are like him in this pestilent property, as if he had spit them out of his mouth; when a good man is down they joy, when he flourisheth they hate: Now tell me, for you know your hearts, have you looked upon these, and seen someone discover himself shamefully, are you glad of it; so would no good heart be (I dare say) this is a certain mark thou art a limb of Satan, and this comes from the Devil, to say, O see then what all these are, the Devil himself would join in this (if he were amongst you) save this for the language in hell hereafter, begin not now so soon, for this shows thou art a member of Satan, and he is the head and thou tastest of him, else no man could rejoice at a good man's fall▪ when therefore thou seest or hereafter hearest of any that do so; think of this, he is like the Devil, in this no child is more like the father, then he to Satan, to rejoice, to disgrace GOD'S children; why tell me if CHRIST should come now (as it were happy if he would to end these miserable times) where would he find his children, but amongst good and religious men, though some be hypocrites, and wear vizards in their faces that we cannot discern them (whom the LORD discover and unmaske) we hold not with them, nor for them, but for the truth. And this I am sure amongst good men only GOD 〈2 pages missing〉 especially if thus qualified in these six Particulars.

1. Look to the cause and ground of thy sufferings, else all is naught, if that be not good, 1 Cor. 13.

2. Thou must have a calling to suffer and not to thrust thyself into it without a calling.

3. Thou must have a clear conscience lying in no known sin, or else thy suffering may be as Ananias and Sapphira, just upon thee for thy hypocrisy.

4. Thou must have an upright heart in it.

5. Thou mayest not aim at by ends to please thyself.

6. Thou must wait for GOD'S time of deliverance, he that believes makes not haste to get out by ill means; if thou be thus qualified in thy sufferings the 37. Psal. will afford variety of precious comfort for thee, and terrible judgments against thy Persecutours. Also observe these.

1. These persecuting Belials shall (will they or nill they) glorify GOD either in their conversion, or confusion. And the day is coming in the mean time to clear thy innocence and to discover their malice: The Devil and thine enemies be chained, they can go no further then they have leave from GOD. GOD is about some extraordinary work, that he is thus fitting thee for it.

2. If GOD turn them not on our parts there is most cause we should pity them, and not envy at their estate: Who would have envied at Pharaoh, when he was persecuting the Israelites, and presently after himself and all with him cast away: What became of him? and what befalls one may be fall all.

3. If thou desirest revenge on any in the greatest manner, it is to have them thrive in ill, and especially in persecuting the good, Ezek. 13. 18. &c.

4. When the wicked insult the whole Church is stirred up against them, Mala. 3. 13, 16.

5. These insulting Enemies are but as the Wine-presses to wring out the sweet juice of Patience and Prayer out of Christians, they are but as the Shepherds dog to keep the sheep out of the severals, and from unwholesome places; and therefore know the time shall come that you shall bless GOD for them, and confess that you could not have been without your sufferings under them.

6. The very Persons of the sufferers themselves do teach much sweetness and comfort to others by their gracious carriage, and also from the nature of affliction it self.

1. The general end of all affliction is to make grace shine, or purify the soul.

2. GOD will glorify himself in the preservation of his, as of the three Children, Dan. 3.

3. Afflictions will quicken and heat the heart; whereas many Christians are cold, &c.

4. That it may appear, as unto Job, that Christians serve not GOD mercenarily.

5. That they may not be overvalued by others, some oppose them and get ability for a time to prevail.

6. That weak Christians might not be dejected when they are troubled.

7. That it may appear felicity rests not in these outward things, which Solomon calls vanity, empty clouds, nay vexation of spirit, bringing torment unexpected.

8. That the virtues of Christians may be delighted in, and shine abundantly in thee. Thus every way a good sufferer may receive comfort in the depth of his misery, and support his heart against all dejections and discouragements.

From this first reason, which is used by the Church to dissuade wicked men from rejoicing at her fall, I observe,

Because one sin will keep them down, much more all their sins being so grievous to them. For when sin stirs and looks grisly in their conscience, it terrifies them; when as on the other side, wicked men care for none; no marvel than if they fleare in the face, when a godly man looks heavily.

Satan the strong man procures all joy to the bad; but not a Devil in Hell, but would do a Christian mischief, and the LORD sometimes to punish some of his sins suffers Satan to afflict him.

All worldlings are kind one to another, but of a world of good-fellows, not one of them is kind to a Christian, but would do him a displeasure if he could.

GOD deals with his children as with the blind man, that had not that punishment for the sin of his Parents or himself, but that GOD may have glory.

2. For Christians trial, as Job.

3. Sometime in Judgment to harden the wicked, whom they could not win by their goodness, they must now be hardened by their punishment.

He that refraines from evil makes himself a prey to wicked men, Satan and his cunning worldlings, when he that refraines not is contrary.

Many afflictions are proper to GOD'S children, as temptations, doubting of Salvation, &c. Nay sometimes hideous suggestions, as were to CHRIST, that no Christian is in that height, for the Son of GOD to be tempted to throw himself from the pinnacle of the Temple: Nay he that thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD, to be tempted to worship the Devil, was more then ever any Christian had.

Because it is called a vale of tears to Christians, though it be a fools Paradise to wicked men, for they have as much pleasure, profit and honor as they can get: As Phareah in Egypt, when the Egyptians were there the Jews were but slaves unto them, and this represented the natural estate of man.

2. The bringing out of▪ Egypt was followed with a long being in the Wilderness, which signifies their gracious state; in which they had many troubles and wants, and after many terrors came to Canaan a type of Heaven: So till they were there the best was a wilderness or vale of tears, because of their several troubles.

To Comfort those that be full of troubles; when they see one affliction upon the neck of another, to conclude, they be sons, not bastards, pure gold, not rubbish.

Let all Christians prepare for new sufferings; for till death set us free, we are not to look to be free from troubles, and never more need to be prepared than now, when not only the Church beyond the Seas, but many good men be in great troubles, observe therefore these helps to take away the sting.

1. Get Patience, the natural weapon to help against all troubles, whither of GOD, Satan, or men. Job by Patience bore all his troubles, the tithe of which troubles would have made a carnal man hang himself, as Haman had no comfort in wife or children, or outward honor, because he could not with Patience look upon Mordecai who a little crossed him. A small cross will rob a man that wants Patience of the comfort of all other outward things; let therefore all Christians labor for Patience, and exercise it as Faith, or love, or any other grace, for I know not whither Christians so much scandalize Religion by anything, as by impatience, when there is any opposition, especially for meum & tuum.

Get your hearts to Heaven, for earthly mindedness undoes all.

3. Get spiritual Joy, which makes us stand as firm as mount Zion, it will heat the heart and give us right to other delights: As the heat of the garment comes from the heart, for the heart heats the body, the body the clothes and a little reflects again, so all comforts we have come from spiritual Joy: for carnal joy always makes the heart melancholy after, Whereas spiritual Joy eats out the heart of worldly sorrow: Follow that therefore with eagernes and observe the differences thus; O death how bitter is thy remembrance to those that live in ease, in worldly prosperity and carnal joy, but it is contrary to those that live in spiritual Joy, they had rather some of them have death than sleep when they are weary. Let a Christian tell me (for he knoweth his state was once as the natural man's, and he labored for joy, but found it madness) now after he is gone on in a Christian course some few years, and seeth his privileges, and prizeth CHRIST before all things and allows no wickedness in his heart, but hath taken the yoke and will wear it forever, then tell me what joy hath ceazed on his heart when he hath CHRIST, from hence will spring as much joy as the heart will hold and more: If a poor man that lived in want a long time, had many thousands befallen him by the death of some great man, with what joy would he embrace it? So when a scorched heart with sight and sense of sin takes CHRIST and hath Heaven and Earth, and takes possession of the blessed Word and Promises, as far then as Heaven surpasseth the Earth and both these that man's estate; so this joy doth outgo the other; therefore with the Apostle I bid such a man rejoice evermore, shout for joy, &c. Saint Chrysostom would have a Christians joy to be like the Sea, into which if a spark fall, it cannot dry up all the moisture of the water, but is presently extinct: So should the joy of a Christian extinguish all afflictions; and great reason, doth not CHRIST promise that what we loose here for him, we shall have an hundred fold? What ever it be, GOD is All-sufficient and can give the comfort of it to his, that we may have an hundred fold of the comfort of these things here, and happiness hereafter: Labor than for this spiritual Joy in having CHRIST, this will comfort in all the troubles that befall any, though they be like the troubles of the Church beyond the Sea, that men have all things taken from them, wives and children slain, or men banished with them out of the Land, yet none can take CHRIST from us, he is our portion forever: labor therefore for him.

Is it so that the Church of GOD is in many troubles? the Spirit of GOD sees it needful to give Antidotes against trouble for her.

Then this serves to trouble those that were never troubled, their state is woeful, it argues they be bastards: Let none then bless themselves that they were never troubled in mind, for I say if any man hath not been troubled in mind for his sin, nor be not hereafter troubled for sin to drive him from all sin, he shall be sure to suffer everlastingly for it: I pray you let this sink into your hearts, and when any is troubled say not: O these be the Hypocrites that will grow mad, &c. But let no such word come from any but incarnate Devils.

Object. Why, J have several crosses and losses in my estate, weakness and sickness of body, &c. Therefore my spiritual estate is good and happy?

Answ. There are three things observable in affliction; for affliction here meant is,

First, Sanctified Affliction to cause us to grow in the whole body of Sanctification and decrease in sin.

Secondly, If thou allowest any sin these afflictions be the beginning of Hell torments, as Christians spiritual joy argues the beginning of their joys of Heaven.

Thirdly, All things fall alike to all outwardly, both the godly and the wicked may have afflictions, they work in the one contrary to the other, in the one they work brokenness of heart and humility, in the other contrary: they are fore-runners of hell to the one, of Heaven to the other.

Object. But J have no such troubles here, therefore J am no Christian?

Answ. It may be thou art troubled that thou wantest trouble. Is not the sense of the want of troubles now a trouble unto thee? but if thou hast none inward, thou hast some outward, art thou not smitten with the ill tongues of the wicked? Though a Christian may go so far (though very rare) as not to have ill tongues against him, yet a Christian hath cause then to be troubled for that, and suspect himself (though he may be in good estate) when ill tongues are not against him; for men may have the good word of ill men about them, because of their faults, as

1. When they give too much liberty to their licentiousness.

2. Not to reprove them when they are called to it.

3. When they are spiritual cowards, and dare not show themselves for God.

4. When they desire the good word of all; because they think else, such fellows will rail on them; these be base cowards, if not stark naught: • et such as are true hearted Christians say (as one said) what have I done that such wicked men speak well of me: Saint Austin said, I will by no means be commended by a man that lives ill, it is a corrasive to my heart, I cannot abide it. When a man first riseth to goodness, his outward virtue like the Sun rising casteth a great shadow; so is there much opposition to it at the first: But when the Sun hath come to his height, then but a little shadow: so the height of grace and virtue may cause little or no opposition, this may be by accident, by helps of good outward parts, and fair and courteous carriages, not grace and goodness, for this will draw hatred from every wicked man.