A Short ESSAY OF AFFLICTIONS. OR, Balm to Comfort if not Cure those that Sink or Languish under present misfortunes, and are not prepared in these unsettled times to meet all events, with constant and equal tempers. Written from one of His Majesty's Garrisons, as a private advice to his only Son, and by him Printed to satisfy the importunity of some particular friends. Luke 21.19 In your patience possess ye your Souls. 1 Pet. 4.19. Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator. London, Printed by E. G. 1647. My dearest Son, SInce I know that man is only truly happy, that the want of outward things cannot make miserable, I cannot but advise you to wind up and raise your thoughts to higher objects then sublunary trifles; And when you do look upon the low transitories of this world, let it be through the wrong, or rather Right end of the Christians Perspective, that they may appear but little, if any thing, in your eyes, which are so weak and empty of all true comfort in themselves, that as Saint Ambrose upon the devils vanishing prospect Matthew 4. saith, he shown all in a moment to our Saviour, least looking a little he had seen nothing; neither doth our Jesus, who knew best the way to happiness in that he was the way, set any other estimate upon them: for when he commands us to seek a Kingdom, it is of heaven, not earth, omitting the very naming of any thing here below, as of no value, all things temporal being with him but as dust upon the balance, or over-waights cast only into the scale, as appendices of grace, and so mean as not worthy the name of a gift from him. And this the devil knew so well, that in his temptations of power, he acknowledged Christ to be the Son of God. But, as Aquinas observes, in that of weakness, wherein he bated his lure only with the perishing nothings (the shadows, and semblances of glory) the sole Monarchy of the world, he considered him only as a man, and durst not once call him the Son of God, knowing it might prevail with frailty, not infinity. From whence let me engage you to fortify yourself against such allurements. And though you are likely by God's mercy yet to possess a competent measure of earthly comforts (notwithstanding the straits and difficulties I have passed) let not them possess you, but be in the world, not of it. And though some part of the affections will touch upon it, while you are here, let it be but like a wheel, in Puncto, in the least point, and that not fixed, but moving, considering all below are but perishing vanities, good only (when virtue animates, and sends them abroad) in their using, not enjoying, when you must be taken from them, if not they from you; and the longest term of having them is but for life; which ever diminisheth by increasing, and is at most but a bubble, a smoke, or eyrie being, the only difference, as one saith, between sleep, and death that soon comes to nothing. Yet this short span or thread of life is most commonly ravelled out, in trouble to get, care to keep, and fear to lose these unsatisfying comforts, which at no time are permanent, but now, as it were dying at the very root, when such an Inundation of misery is broken in upon us, as hath almost brought all things to another Chaos; so that nothing but an almighty power can bring light out of our darkness; form, beauty, and order out of such a heap, and mass of confusion. Nay, such is the violent tide, and impetuousness of some men's passions, as they would do more than Noah's flood, in making but one common grave for State, Church, and all, though God hath in his goodness yet bounded them, in saying, Hitherto you shall go, and no further; and will still give us safety, salvation in the Ark, (the true and Ancient Protestant faith, & Reverential worship as it was reform, and practised in Queen Elizabeth's days) rise, and rage's those waters never so much; for God being Pilot, will steer, and keep it floating upon those devouring waves, till he find it another Ararat to rest on; yet that you may guide your course with the more comfort, and safety in this troubled Ocean, I shall like a lantern in the haven, or so many Sea-marks for direction commend unto you these few practical considerations following; which truly like the ballast of the Ship, have kept me in an even and safe course, in the midst of our greatest storms, and made me by God's infinite goodness happy in misery, rich in want, and contented in all conditions: nor will they prove unprofitable to you, if you look up to God for a blessing, when you reflect upon them in your meditations, but will make you in habit, and affections above misfortunes, if not a Martyr, (when called to it upon Christian, and noble terms) and in Calmes tackle, and tight your weak built Pinnace to endure all weathers upon any change. And I fear, though our present clouds (the immediate messengers of tempests) do somethtng scatter, they may gather again into a higher malignity than ever, since I see they are still big with those foggy and fiery exhalations, out of which the Thunderbolts of God's wrath were lately form, and made; and I fear our new sins will again midwife, and bring them forth to wrack us in the very haven, if we alloy not the storm by a shower of repentant tears, and by our more faithful sincere, and constant returns to God, turn his wrath from us (which he of his mercy grant, if it be his blessed will,) and how ever enable you, (and all his) to undergo with an equal temper, and holy submission, what his wisdom hath appointed for us. Only I shall desire you to use these short Essays piously, (the Subject whereof is chief the Christians comportment in afflictions) as a means to fix your Quicksilver, and unconstant temper: And I shall not doubt but God of his mercy will water this my planting which the heavenly dew of his grace, and make it bring forth comfort here with joy in the holy Ghost; and (with the Phoenix) Glory in your Resurrection, which is the Prayer of Your affectionate Father. April the 20. An. Do. 1646. AN ESSAY OF AFFLICTIONS, AND The Christian's comportment in them. IF the whole life of Christ was a continued crucifixion, in that he was borne a Martyr, found a Golgatha in Bethlem, and made his birth, and his death, his Christmas, and good Friday, both Morn, and Evening of one and the same day of suffering; we that fight under the Banner of his Cross, must not think to follow our General in his triumphs, if we leave him in the field, or carry no marks of Honour (Prints of his wounds) about us, which how mortal soever, never prove deadly; But as Romanus said, when Asclehiades made his tormentors cut and crucify him, (Tota ecce laudant ora, quot sunt vulnera) must prove so many mouths to praise, and glorify God with: and not with jonas be angry though he strike our Gourd, take all worldly comforts from us, and exchange them for many positive evils, especially since a heathen Anaxarchus, when Nicoreon a Tyrant would have brayed him in a mortar could say, (his cause being good,) Thou canst but beat the Bag, the Satchel, not the man. Nay such hath been the constancy, and courage of Heathens, as julius Caesar said when in expectation of Shipwreck, the man may perish, his fortitude cannot. And therefore let us Christians much more contend with the Axe, grow by cutting, and with Cummin, live by dying; for if they be more than men, shall not we be more than they? and with the ball, percussa surgo, since with Plutarch in the Fable between the Sun and the wind, the roughness of the tempest made the traveller wrap his cloak about him (keep what he had) the faster, when the silent Rhetoric of the sun's beams overcame him, and made him divest himself. Nay, if man that was God, was obscured, over-shadowed, and in so inglorious an estate as to suffer all the degrees, and dimensions of Shame, Paine, and Death for us; shall not we, worms, and no men, suffer ourselves to be trampled on for him? and think it no shame, but our security to retire into the Caverns (our most abject, and secluse beings) against the malice of our Persecutors, when they shall so invade us, as not to allow us a visible one; Especially since God will be there both our Prison, Psal. 32.7. Keeper, hiding place, and Preserver, whether we consider the Church Dilated, or contracted into one man: so that, though our life be a warfare, and the weak built Pinnaces of our bodies are no sooner lanced out of their ports (our Mother's wombs) into the Ocean of this world, Job. 7.1. but they are torn, and tossed by the several warring billows of various accidents, If a heavenly wind fill our sails (the spirit of God breath gently in our Prayers) and that our main mast hold out a white Flag of Innocency inlaid with the red cross of Christ's blood, conscience being our Pilot, the Scriptures our compass, his Promises our Anchor, and our Polestar Christ, in Shipwreck we shall have a Plank, in the sea a Whale to preserve us, and waft us into a more safe, if not so calm a harbour, as we aimed at. For though God submits his Children to be subject to, and sensible of troubles, as the common condition of man, he will then preserve them from the venom, though not the sting of those vipers; and if tossed with storms, will put a strong Ship under them, and make the loudest thunder, but as a lofty voice, or loud Music to usher in their triumph, and Coronation; And if he suffer them to be trodden into the earth with scorns, and contempts, it is but (as Seed is buried to make it multiply the more) that they might rise the more glorious, which should encourage us to endeavour to make all events equal to us, knowing that like the best steel we may (by the grace of God) fashion them either into a shield or sword to ourselves Prosperity and Adversity being but the matter, the stamp or form ours to give, either the Lion's fierceness, and destructive nature, or the Lamb's Innocence. For the most rough, and hard afflictions are in themselves, as all things of indifferency, neither Good, nor Bad, but in order to their last end; So as Crosses (as they are Corrections for, and not simply Punishments of our sins) may become mercies, and blessings unto us, and are a part of divine providence both in respect of their Author, Amos 3. Es. 45. Lam. 3. Heb. 12. Order and End, when it is his wisdom to advance our happiness by sufferings, that no Person of the meanest condition might miss of a means to felicity. And so to be not only patiently and cheerfully submitted to, Luk. 6.28 but rejoiced in. If we suffer for righteousness sake, * Jam. 1.2. and look to God as the Creator, and Conductor of them. * 1 Peter 2. For when we see the Puppets move (the men of this world by't, and wound us) we must consider an invisible hand moving the wires, ordering the Events for his own glory, and our salvation; And in this sense, though afflictions are the only sure inheritance of Humanity, * Job. 5. (whose income is Tears, his rent for life, Cares, and Fears: his outgoings, horror and trouble in the force of nature's dissolution) they are more peculiarly the Portion of the righteous, * Lam. 3. Heb. 12. Amos. 3. who like a square die will stand firm though cast upon any chance, (which made Socrates say; an honest man was a square man, one that would be himself in all conditions) and as a well built Arch will stand the faster, by addition of wait, and burden, or with the Centre in the circumference be fixed with job, though all worldly things move in their vicissitudes, and several changes to evil about him: knowing he that wounds will heal, and not only in famine redeem from death, in war from the power of the sword, but will set him above misfortunes, and make them all subservient to his good, * Job. 5. turning the Serpent of afflictions with Aaron's into a Rod budding new, and fresh joys, and teach him Salamander like, to live in flames, and entertain all events with evenness, and patience, knowing that the strongest winds, if he sail before them, will but convey him to Christ, who commands the winds and Seas, and they obey. But the better to prop, and support our weak, and tottering resolutions, I will raise some pillars of comfort to rest upon, if we look after and follow the examples both of Christ, * Es. 53. Psa. 18. whose Cratch was a Crucifixion; his whole life one continued Passion; and all the holy men of God, * 1 Pet. 2. ●Chr. 21. ●7. ●o. 1.21.2.20. ● Sam. 3.18 ● Sam. 18. ●6. Esay 39.8. Micha 7.9. Ro. 5.13. who found no other way to heaven then that of thorns; and bore all the weight of misery, that was laid upon them, as if they felt it no more, than those that live in the circle of the Air, and yet find no ponderousness in it, because nothing is heavy in its own element, and that crosses, and losses being the matter, and Principle as it were out of which a Christian is form, cannot make him sink under the pressure of them; especially, if we consider the two chief ends for which they are sent, God's glory, man's salvation, and every way Advantage. First, afflictions are sent many times for God's glory; not as punishments for our sins, though they are always the meritorious and occasional cause of judgements. Thus the blind man in the Gospel wanted his sight, * Jo. 9.2. ● (and with Tobias recovered it by this gall of afflictions) that we might see the power, and mercy of God in his deliverance both from corporal and spiritual blindness; for as contraries are the best Comments upon one another; so God's Goodness, and Greatness most appears in bringing health out of Sickness, Light out of Darkness, and forming all the well ordered, and various beauties of the world out of nothing, or a Chaos, and great Mass of confusion; happiness out of misery, glory out of sufferings, giving victory in thraldom, and triumph to his when conquered, as the true trophies of Christian magnanimity, and most legible Characters of his favour to his Church, which with the bush is ever burning, * Exod. 3.2 yet never to be consumed; & like the Ark however floating upon the proud imperious high swelling waves, sinks not, but when threatened to be involved in the whole world's general destruction, having but one common winding-Sheet (the pleated waters) and as it were one common burial place, then is preserved, and by those watery rising mountains but lifted up the nearer heaven, God as it were like another Neptune embarking himself in (and hazarding Shipwreck with) his Church. Secondly, they are sent for our salvation, not as a cause of, but way to glory; as they are a means of our holiness here (in that whosoever will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer afflictions) and happiness hereafter; * 2 Tim. 3.12. there being no way to ascend the mount of honour but by the steps of virtue through a rough, and difficult path; no Haven to be gained unless we pass the straits; no way to heaven but by the gates of hell; for unless we fill up the sufferings of Christ in his body the Church, and bear his cross we cannot be partakers of his Crown, enduring being the condition of Reigning with him. * Act. 14.22. Colos. 1. ●4. ● Tim. 2. ●2. ● Ps. 73.4. In that his first intention, when he destroys, is to Preserve us, which is the Reason, as David saith, the wicked have no bands in their death, receive not their punishment here. And who would not upon these terms lose a life to save it, who may by saving lose it? nay▪ what Merchant would not to recover his wished haven with a wealthy lading be contented to have his vessel weather beaten, and torn? and much more a Christian, that is a man of war; a Bark built for all weathers, storms, and Calms, knowing that the rough Sea proves the Pilot, and makes him keep at the stern and helm, using all holy endeavours to avoid every Rock, and Sand of Temptation, and ply the pump upon the least leak, knowing that the smallest sin unrepented, neglected, or not with Ionas thrown overboard to appease the storm, will sink the tallest vessel, and better unlade all then the man should perish. Nay, shall our Lord, Head, and General be all wounded, torn, and exposed to all degrees of suffering for us, and shall not we (his Church, and members) undergo some troubles, endure a scratch, or wear a scar for him? shall he drink up the full Cup, and showers of his Father's wrath, and shall not we taste of those few remaining drops for him? shall innocence suffer, and guilt go free? nay, shall God die for man, and man undergo no pressure for God? nay, for himself, his own advantage, where dissectings are recompactings; God forbidden. No, away with such pusillanimity, my soul, and leave not thy Saviour in his sufferings for thee. Though thou art called with Simon of Cyrene to take up his Cross (or rather thine, * Isay. 53. which he bore for thee) and bear it for him, till thou comest to Golgatha, the place of Skulls, (thy grave) nay, further, if possible. For as a devoute man said, if he could find or apprehend any defect of joy in heaven, it would be only in that he could not there suffer for his Saviour. Though what we undergo here is not more for his glory, than our benefit. And therefore as Music is sweetest, when expiring, let the last swan-like Act of our sufferings be but harmoniously accordant to Christ in that sweet ditty of his, not mine, but thy will be done. And a Ravishment of delight will so possess our souls, as we shall only account our life from our Death, and that our birth day to Eternity, Our eve or vigil to our great festival at the marriage of the Lamb; for as God moved upon the waters in the Creation, before they brought forth the first Creature, so afflictions are now those many waters, in which God moves to make us conceive in our hearts by the holy Ghost, like the womb of the virgin, till Christ be form in us, and we bring forth holiness, which he ever crownes with happiness. Now though these are the first, Primary, and Principal ends, why Gods children are thus brought forth with labour, & sorrow (a curse as ancient as sin itself) there are many other practical uses, and pious considerations we should entertain them with; for as one saith, Schola crueis est schola lucis; and Oratio, Lectio, temptatio, the rough, but ready way to Heaven, and the troubled waters of Repentant tears the clearest Perspective in an Eclipse of God's favour to see his face shine in our devotions, which usually rise, and fall with the waves of afflictions, the greatest misery ordinarily making us most importunate for mercy (as one depth calling upon another) and most careful of our ways. Like the Horse that ever goeth surest, and best when he feels the spur, and bridle the mariner that most useth his plummet, and compass in storms. And thus we will consider afflictions. First, as they are incentives to Prayer, and like fire extract the best incense of our devotions, making them to ascend in a holy flame of zeal to mediate our peace, and pacify an exasperated Deity, whose Power, Justice, and Mercy are all engaged to deliver them, that in afflictions call upon him. * Ps. 30.34 107. Hos. 5 Esay 49.3. Lam. 3. For than we do their errand, and cannot miss of a Gracious Audience no more than Abraham, where Dust and Ashes pleaded with his maker, and as it were so charmed his ear with this Oratory, that importunity itself could not weary him. * Gen. 18. Nay with this spiritual Engine, Impotence and weakness overcomes Power and Omnipotence, puts manacles upon the hands of God: and (with an humble reverence be it spoken) worsts him in the conflict, making him cry out, Let me alone, or till thou art gone, I can do nothing, Exod. 32. Numb. 14. as to Moses. Thus a faithful Prayer works all kinds of miracles, makes the Heavens, Earth, and Seas obey. For when the gasping Earth is dying for Thirst, Elias can by Prayer quicken and enliven it. It can fix the Sun in the firmament, as in a Centre, give Ears to the Grave, and make them open, and life to the dead; Jo. 12. And ever nests a Christian, (like a Dove in the cliffs of the Rock,) in the wounds of his Saviour, so as he cannot when assaulted, be sensible of any Dangers, but rests secure in storms: whereas the wicked man's Prosperity is but like the winter Sunshine, late up, and all ways setting in thick clouds, and like the bird Cigelus Suidas speaks of, that always dies in the act of feathering. And therefore with Moses, let us rather choose to suffer afflictions with the Children of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: knowing, that the most obscured, and benighted Christian can by the gentle breath of a fervent Prayer, or the stronger and more contracted winds of sighs, and Groans disperse those thick vapours that Eclipse his happiness, enlighten that Darkness and ushers in a most bright, glorious, and cheerful morning. So the Prophet David, Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh with the break of day, * Psal. 30. when we are saluted with the beams of the rising Sun of Righteousness in our souls; Is. 54.1.8. Only let us observe this, that (though in some waters the least sail makes most speed) in these Seas all sails must be hoist, all the affections stirring, though a Penitents loudest voice in his eye full of tears (not his tongue full of words) if God blow upon those waters, and make them flow. And therefore one saith well, Tears in Prayer, or the Prayer of Tears are the blotting out of the hand-writing, that is against us, (as a gracious means, no meritorious cause) and the usury by which the joys of heaven are multiplied to us; Gods free preventing Grace in the application of the blood of Christ, being our Stock, and Principle. Thus afflictions alarm Prayer, and Prayer routs and vanquisheth afflictions. It is a Moses in the gap, an Elias, the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel, by which we conquer. Secondly, Afflictions are to be entertained with delight (so Saint james) as they work every way for our good, * James 1.2. and make God's anger his Love to us; which made David cry out, * Psa. 119.71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, and taught thy Laws; and teach us by many other expressions, what Lemnius saith, nostrae salutis avidus, God is most endeavouring to love us, when he most corrects us, and sends Crosses like his messengers in the Gospel to compel those that neglect his Invitation, and to draw them by force to the means of Salvation; his Love, Patience, and long suffering brings not in to him, * Ps. 6.126.6. ever making the matter of a good man's sorrow the cause of his rejoicing; * Jer. 31.16. for Afflictions no sooner stir up to repentance (as in Ephraim) but Repentance bringeth Reprieve, and Pardon, * Rom. 8. by a refined Alchemy turning all things into good for us, and extracting the most Sovereign Cordials out of the rankest poisons, the best Mithridate from the most venomous scorpions, ever making the Lily amongst the Thorns (the Emblem of the Church) retain its whiteness, her Purity and Innocence, however scratched and torn, still gathering beauty from her scars, and with the Rose sweetness, when it hangs amongst the Briars, but withering, and abating of its Odours, if once pulled from them. Thirdly, as they are a means of our Perseverance in that they do not only call us home, but keep us steady in our return to it; and if we either slack in, or deviate from our way in Piety, like the Rider's hand, and he'll, they many times restrain our wander, and quicken us in our pace and progress towards heaven, and as the Teather of the soul, bounds, and confines us, when our untamed dispositions would furiously break forth into many Extravagances, God many times curing us by Contraries; Sodoms fullness of bread by Egypt's famine; hedging us in a narrow & straight path with Thorns to walk in, when we would perhaps lay all waste before us that stands in opposition to our proposed ends, destroy Propriety, and not only usurp upon others interests, and ruin our own, but invade God in his (the too much I fear practised sin of these days) Only the Princes of juda, will not, I hope, be like those that would remove the bounds, * Hos. 5.10, 11. both Civil with reference to the State, the fence of common interest, moral bounds, the square, and Standard of our obedience, and Characters of Pure Nature, or Evangelicall (both Practical, and Contemplative) by which we are to fashion, and order ourselves in the worship of God, the inward, and outward man, thoughts, actions, and devotions, not only acting, but enacting mischief, as a Law; * Psal. 9 48 thus the brightest day, if the Sun set in a cloud, will lose its Garland; our Ripest beginnings without suitable proceed prove fruitless; our best appearances but cyphers, which how capacious soever in the figure, and taking up the greatest rooms, with God signify nothing. But if when falling, God lend us his hand, by Afflictions cause our Perseverance, Our Perseverance in Goodness (in quick, and sharp trials) as one of the blood Royal, and immediate heirs of God's Kingdom, crownes our Afflictions, and draws that oil of Gladness out of those flints, if we are not cowardly jealous, in suspecting what we most desire, but by Faith rely upon God's promise for it. Fourthly, Afflictions are to be borne as they come from the hand of a Father, * Heb. 12. * Rev. 3.19 * Prov. 3.11.12. with bowels and Compassion, more of Love then Anger, to Reform, not Punish us. And if necessity, * Luke 18 which is always an ill Companion (many times, a bad Counsellor) doth at any time, with the Prodigal make us return to our Father with a modest bashfulness, and humble confession of our sins, our Remembering them, will make him forget them; Our shaming ourselves will be his Justification of us: neither will God expect our Return, but accepts the Resolution for the Performance. For no sooner did this lost Son purpose to go back to his Father, but He goes forth of himself to prevent him with kindness, forsaking as it were his Greatness in a Gracious Condescend to meet and embrace him: and like a careful nurse never suffers him to fall again, but to teach him the better to stand, and look to his footing, never lays the Rod upon him, but (as we do a whip upon a Top) to make him go the better for being well scourged, * Psal. 34.50. Js. 21.54. and lays his Corrasives to his dead flesh, not that he delights in his Pain, but intends his Cure. Fifthly, we ought to bear Afflictions cheerefu lie and Thankfully, if we consider how much our sins deserve, * Es. 59 and with what a gentle hand we are punished, * Ez. 3. * Lam. 3. * Rom. 6. God ever rewarding beyond our merits, correcting much less than our Iniquities challenge from his Justice; in that he delights to show mercy, and is always unwilling to inflict Punishment, * Jer. 46.27, 28. (but calling it his strange work, as it were declines it,) nor strikes at all, but in mercy (and that his greatest, in that he is then said to go out of himself) ever with Jonathan shouting his Arrows to warn, not wound us, never Purging, Lancing, nor Cutting, but for our health, and Recovery. Nay he is so slow to punish, as that he calls Afflictions the vials of his wrath from their shape, and straitness; * Lam. 3. * Psal. 23 to show how hardly he pours them out upon us, and never but in measure, having his staff to support, as well as his Rod to humble us, his Cork as well as his lead, when he sinks us to keep us floating, so as we cannot be drowned, Christ our head being above water. And God to assure us the more of a happy issue to every temptation * 1 Cor. 10.13. (if we wait upon him in the way of his judgements, and judge ourselves to prevent being further judged) will as he hath promised, make the Elements lose their natures, and be our Protectors, not Executioners. For when we walk through the fire, it shall not burn us, and when we go through the waters, they shall not overflow us; Is. 43.2. * Is. 26.8. But the * 1 Cor. 11.31. fived waters shall become a hard Pavement to our feet (as to Christ's upon the Sea) and the fiery furnace a safe flittering place, against our Enemies; for God is always tipping his spear with honey, like jonathans', to refresh as well as wound us. Sixthly, Afflictions are sent to teach us Humility, the best Dress, and Ornament of a virtuous soul, and to correct the high-towring vapour of Pride. Thus David, that thought in his Prosperity he should never be removed, in Adversity could acknowledge it was God that made his mountain so strong: which was the Reason also that Saint Paul's Thorn in his flesh * 2 Cor. 12 was not removed, to bring him to the knowledge of the Rock out of which he was hewn, to remember what he was in nature, * Psal. 103 and in foundation but dust: that with the Peacock all his high crested vanities, and richest plume of Grace's inherent, looking to his feet, his icy, slippery, and frail bottom, might not make him proud, but standing by God's Grace only he might still fear to fall, falling from that fear being the undermining of the whole frame, In that the highest and firmest buildings are always raised from the lowest foundations; And the most improved Christian ever appearing like a Pyramid (the higher it's built) the less, and less in his own eyes (though as one observes well, Pride is nature's shirt, that sticks closest to him, and he puts off last) ever saying with Saint Paul in his visions, Revelations, and unexampled Piety, It is not I, but the Grace of God in me. Thus with the heathen Pliny to Marius, we may say, Afflictions bring us home to ourselves; so that if we could but perform in Prosperity, what we promise in Adversity, we should be living Saints, not Proud sinners Doing Justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God. * Isa. 1. 1 King. 8. Mich 6.8. Seventhly, we are to endure Afflictions, as they fit and prepare our soil for better fruits, and make us abound in Piety, and Good works; * 2 Tim. 3.12. Eccles. God by an Egyptian midwife many times bringeth forth a true Israelite, and by pruning his vine, 2 Hos. 5.15. beating his spices, correcting his servants makes their fruits and Graces more full, fragrant and diffusive. * Psal. 119 7 55. * Jo. 10. * Isa. 5. For like the good husbandman, that ploughs, and harrows his ground, to make it bring forth the fuller harvest, that cudgels, and thresheth his walnut tree to make it Teeme and Laid its bows, God also studies all ways to improve our Graces, and his own Glory, ever sending a winter before a spring, frosts and snow to soften and mellow the mould of our Earthly hearts, * Psal. 32.34. the better to prepare us for his good seed, and a Rich return, though indeed we do in that but gather, and carry in for ourselves, when in crowning us he crownes but his own work in us: Is. 54. Math. 26.39. first making us bear his Cross, and then wear his Garland, all afflictions being but as the Cloud and Pillar of fire before the Israelites, to protect, not destroy us, to defend us from our Enemies and lead us over jordan to our Promised land, Christ Jesus. Eightly, we may be encouraged to undergo Afflictions here, because they are not durable, though weighty, in that Christ's Prayer hath made this Cup passant; So as the storms of Afflictions, when they thicken most upon us, are not stayed but moving, nay, flying away upon the wings of the wind, never enduring above a moment in the Ephemerideses of divine Providence, * Is. 55. * Psa. 31.34. however tedious if we measure them by our measures of Time (Clocks, and dials;) nay not a minute or expense of the least grain of Sand, if computed by the glass of Eternity, (which is ever running, but never wasting) or the immense duration of the rewards, when Faith, Repentance, and all the Constellations of other Graces in us, shall like the hand upon the Dial, Point at, nay, show the Meridian, Declining and Period of our day of Affliction, and that afternoon half Eternity of happiness we are going to be possessed of; for with Saint Paul Our troubles here are for continuance nothing, * 2 Cor 4.17. or the least part of Time, but a Moment, for weight light, and the most ponderous but a feather in the scales with more exceeding, nay Eternal, nay Eternal weight nay Eternal weight of Glory, Glory for shame, weighty for light, Eternity of enjoying for a momentary suffering; * Rev. 7.14 and therefore though a perplexed fancy disturbing the Organs of Reason may like a false glass multiply our troubles, and dangers, let us with a steady faith behold them in their own Dimensions, finite in respect both of their measure and continuance, And we shall soon be brought to say with Saint Paul, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, and now there is laid up for me a Crown of glory. Ninthly, Afflictions are to be welcomed, as they are seals of our Adoption, Badges of our Profession, Earnests of Grace, and beginnings of Glory. * 2 Tim. 3.11.12. Job. 5. Math. 10.16.14. Heb. 12. The Red Sea, through which we much pass to the Land of Canaan, the Crown of Thorns we must wear here, if we will have one of Gold with Christ in heaven. * 1 Pet. 4.13. Matth. 5.20. The only Thistles, from which we may gather Figgs, and Briers, that yield grapes for wine to cheer the the heart, being once strengthened with all might, according to his glorious Power, with all Patience, and long suffering with joyfulness. * Colos. 1. For with the Roman Orators, as he lives not that hath only the happiness of this life in his thoughts, so he never dyeth, nor is ever sensible of temporary troubles, that can cast them up rightly, and be willing to change a house of clay, a Breath, or vapour of smoke, a Body of Death, and garment of corruption for Immortality, and honour; a Region of Death for the land of the living; the life of man for that of Angels; a valley of Tears for a mount of Joy. Tenthly, consider that God lays his Afflictions upon us, in regard of his Propriety in us, Making that the ground of his care over us; * Isay. 51. Ezek. 34 11.15. Thus he weeds his Garden, dresseth, and fenceeths his Vineyard with Briars, and Thorns, both to defend, and make it fruitful, shakes his Trees that the Rotten fruit might fall off, and they take the better rooting, It being the highest end, and chiefest fruit of Afflictions to take away sin, and preserve the sinner, to destroy the worm and cancer, that would otherwise destroy the Tree; many times to give it shade, lest too much sun should dry and whither it; or like that in the early spring produce many gay flowers and odoriferous smells to court the senses, but withal engender millions of flies, and vermin, to spoil them; for so the pleasures of this world are but a jonas gourd, sumer fruit, of short continuance, whereas the winter fruits, that endure most of cold and nipping frosts, are for durance, and lasting. Thus though great mists do ever midwife in Calmes; the Air is then most tainted, and dangerous, whereas thunder brings forth a most wholesome, pure, serene and bright sky. Nay, Afflictions makes us every way better in our spiritual condition, and fit to be owned by the Father of spirits, who like a cunning I apidary tries his Jewels before he gives them a Rich setting, that if true, not Counterfeit, he might spare them, * Malach. 3 17. as a man spareth his only Son; nay, they are Gods bullets shot against an Armour of proof, to try, not pierce it; there being more strength in the Innocency of his Saints, then in all Goliahs' Brass and Irons, that he might treasure it up in his Militia for the honour of his Saints, and beautifying of his own habitation. Eleventhly, Afflictions are Gods love tokens to us, the Dialect in which he woes us, and true Anagram of our sins, (in that we may usually read our sins, and failings in the specification of his judgements upon us) by them to make us consider the deformity of all other objects, and unite our affections in him; the rather when we see all the Darling delights of this world so soon overshadowed; and always tempered with the bitterness of some temporary cross, to disrelish our taste, and abate our Appetite to them; so as the rest of our bodies, many times proves our minds exercise; and our empty hours, most fill us with vain and vexings thoughts; at best affording us but less pain, no absolute freedom from troubles, in our most retired retirements; for when the doors of our senses are locked up, the Fantasy doth many times affright us with visions and terrify us with dreams, Job. 7.14. making our waking Consciences, often Alarm our sleepy souls, by all this restlessness to bring us to an everlasting rest; and shall we neglect his bounty, and receive with a wrinkled brow what he gives us with a summer and gracious aspect? for to you it is given, not only to believe, but to suffer for Christ. * Ph. 1.29 And shall we refuse to wear his favours, livery, and Cognisance (though a cross) that are thus effects of his affection to us and so not only in their spring but stream; In that his providence so steers the action, and orders the event in all things, as a sparrow falls not without his leave, nor can the devil enter into a swine (so little is the largest empire here) without his permission, Rom. 8.28. and makes all the variety of Accidents (how contrary soever the lines are drawn) to centre in our good; so communicative of himself is his goodness to us. And therefore let not the clay dispute with the Potter, walking brickle earth with the God of heaven. For his actions are always just, and good; nay full of mercy to us, though harsh; his Physic wholesome, though unpleasant, in that sometimes his greatest mercy, is not to show mercy, * Hos. 4.13 14. * Isai. 1.5. Lam. 1. Wisd. 12.1. not withhold the lance, when it is to open an impostumation. And therefore, correct me O Lord to amend me, wound me to heal me, kill me to make me live, take away all to give me thyself. And do not hate me so much, * Ps 81.11, ●2. * Rev. 22.11. Os. 15. Ez. 24.13. as not to seem to hate me at all, when it is the greatest punishment not to be punished, and the greatest improvement of our wealth to lose it, and our live: too for Christ, * Mar. 10.29.30. where the interest he pays is so great, the Return so infinite we receive here with persecutions; † Matth. 10. Act. 14.22. and so immense and unexhaustible in the world to come; * Job. 5. * 1 Cor. 11 31. for so the Apostle, Eye hath not seen (yet the eye is a nimble sailor, and hath traveled fare, and seen much) ear hath not heard (yet the ear hath heard more than the eye hath seen, being as it were the Portall, or gate of the soul, by which knowledge enters, and so apprehends more of the beauties, and Beatitudes of that place then can by all the other senses be discerned here, in the dim and opake glass of the creatures, though God is here very legible in many of his Attributes) nor hath it entered into the thought of man, the joys that shall be revealed (yet thought hath a kind of infinity in it, and grasps more at once, than either eye, or ear can commensurate with the largest extended faculties, and most unbounded dimensions of their several ways of comprehension, and discerning) having the wings, and motion of a spirit, the capacity of an intelligence, yet still short of imagining, the vast incomprehensibleness of that which passeth Imagination; For such is Heaven, a circle within a circle, many enfolded mysterious joys, which will be best conceived by thinking what we cannot conceive; and because it cannot enter into us here, let us expect with patience, till we enter into it hereafter, and hear with comfort that blessed voice of come ye blessed of my Father, & go into the joy that is prepared for you from the beginning of the world; And not only so, but enter into thy Master's joy nor only that, that is prepared of God for them that love him, but that which is God, the beatifical vision itself. Yet here the Saints of God see the dawning of that day, a light springing out of darkness, * Psal. 112.4. and beams of comfort in the blackest night of Affliction, some love glances in the most unkind divorce, which is never long, though it seems long to us. Twelfthly, Afflictions are sent, as trials from God, and a means of evidencing to ourselves the truth of our faith, by the exercise of it: (as it is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things * 1 Peter. 1 Isai. 40.31. not seen) which made Abraham rely upon the Promise, not disputing the means of its performance, knowing that Phoenix like God could raise him up a seed from the dead ashes of his Isaac; Gen. 22. though in him he offered the comfort of his life, the staff of his age, the sum and Recapitulation of all his numerous posterity: possessing as it were future Joys, and by them was made unsensible of present troubles, or at least not regarding them, but endured that Cross, despised the shame, looking unto Jesus, the finisher as well as the author of his faith, * Heb. 12.2. the comfortable beams of the sun of righteousness still beating upon his soul in their strongest reflex, in the darkest and most clouded night of Temptation, which can never be hindered by the stormy winds, because Celestial; for true Faith becomes the stronger by difficulties, ever preferring the Cross of Christ to the Triumphs of Emperors, and all the Crowns of Kings, and with certain fishes mentioned by Pliny, is ever swimming against the stream, to recover the fountain Christ, knowing that all Refreshments are originally and virtually there; and with the needle in the mariners compass is fixed, & unmoveable in the greatest tempests, because not governed by the turbulent, and unconstant winds, but the unchangeable Heavens, and never count it any victory to trample upon a worm (any small trial) or to wade through a shallow River, but grapples with and overcomes the greatest oppositions, knowing Crosses cannot be so large as to out-circle their Crowns. Neither is this all, for faith can here make absent things present, and conquer, when conquered: and though humane friendship is like Quicksilver soon incorporating with the best mettles, but in difficulties and the fire conveys itself away: faith then knows divine help to be most present, having the Angels for her Corpse de Guard, and God his Pavilion round about her. Nay, in that fire, as with Moses in the bush (a strange palace for Divinity to enthrone in) rather than his shall want a comforter; for if his people be in Captivity, or that Ashur afflicts them without a cause, they trusting in him in their distress, God will not be kept above in heaven without a * Is. 52.4.5. * Gen. 46.6. * Ps. 46.1 what do I here? And I will go down, (O the exalted humility of our God) to be their present help in trouble. Their help in, (not always their deliverance from) trouble. Indurance their companion, making their prison their heaven, the persecutors Chains, * Gen. 39.21. their Bracelets, and Ornaments the Lions, their Guardians, not destroyers, as to Daniel. In that God, and a Christian are but one in their sufferings, † Js. 63.9. * for I am afflicted in their afflictions, saith he; and they that persecute us, persecute our Jesus in us, (as in Saint Paul) who will be sure to relieve us in our necessities, (having engaged all his Attributes for it) and make our almost emptied Curse a never to be exhausted spring, the Ravens our Caterers, and fishes to bring money in their mouths to pay our ordinary, rather than we should want to defray our charges, (as in the case of Tribute) nay, rather than the faithful should suffer to destruction, (his Church which should appear like an Army well ordered with banners both for beauty, and terror) God himself will in their march to Canaan be both Harbinger, Quartermaster, General, and Sutler to the Camp, making the wilderness a down bed, the Rock a Seller, & the heavens a larder to afford them all necessaries; Nay, he will beyond it feed them to delight, even with Quails, and Manna, satisfying them as he did David in his most naked and abject condition: And as a Banquet to his meat before the cloth be taken away, and these outward things fail) he will give us Christ and in him; a full taste of his mercies, the only store-house, and true Magazine, nay, the abstract, and Epitome of all the treasures both of heaven, and earth; and higher I cannot soar in this meditation. For if he spare not his son, but deliver him up, not only for, but to us, shall he not with him freely give us all things? * Rom. 8.32. Jo. 6 as the Apostle argues; all necessaries here, and lasting joys hereafter, but taking down our earthen Cottages to rebuild them stately Palaces, making every grain of dust spring innumerous fresh glories to us. Thirteenthly, Afflictions are sent, for the exercise of our charities in suffering with, censuring of, and giving examples of a holy submission to others. First, In suffering with others, compassion being Passion at at the rebound, for who is afflicted, and I burn, or suffer not saith Saint Paul? Nay this fire softens our natures, makes them more pliable, malleable, and easy to take impressions from others sufferings, and so compassionate as to make their miseries our unhappiness, as if one soul did animate divers bodies, and we live, and die in one another, as it was in the Apostles times, which is the true box of Spicknard in the Canticles Christ poureth out to comfort, and refresh his spouse with, when nearest fainting under the cross, in that their sufferings are his Crucifixions. * Jsa. 63. Act. 9.5. And if God thus became man, (took our Ignominy and infirmities upon him) for us, shall women become beasts to one an other? divest ourselves of this most noble part of humanity, and be so fare from Christians, as not to be reasonable creatures? in our tender compassion to others, but like freebooters Rifle and Rob them to enrich ourselves, when they should be objects of our pity and relief; for there aught to be that harmony and concord amongst us, as we should endeavour like one Instrument of many strings to tune all our faculties, and affections into a sweet agreement, that there might be no jarring amongst ourselves, nor disagreement in our service of God, that being well set by one key, we may like two lutes (which by a holy sympathy will both sound when one is but struck) the one feel the others motion, though most when like Instruments whose Pegs are wound up, their strings screwed to the height, by any outward violence they make the shrillest sounds, according to that of the Apostle, * Heb. 13.3 Remember them in bonds, as bound, being ourselves of the body; especially when I am sure, that if a Toe (the meanest and remotest member) be but trod upon, Christ our head feels it. Secondly, our charity must be exercised in censuring others Actions; for so love hopeth all things, believeth all things, * 1 Cor. 3. and ever takes them in the best sense, is never severe, nor positive in judging them by their outward condition, in that the Corn is as much thrashed as the straw, the Gold as much tried (though not wasted) in the fire as the Dross. Nay many times much more; for there may be a Rich Dives, whose Cups overflow with wine, when poor Lazarus is glad to refresh himself with the common Element of water; * Luke 16. a good tree may appear withered, blasted, and dying with the violence of outward storms, or recoiling of the sap of Grace to the Root in some strong temptation; * Eccles. 9.1, 2. when the fruitless bay tree is green, and flourishing, so as with the wise man we may say, none can judge of love, or hatred, by what is before him (of no man's spiritual condition by his temporal) in that all things sublunary come alike to all. For it is not God's dispensation of outward blessings, but our use of them, that makes the difference. And though the shadow of his wings be a shelter, * Ps. 63.7. in the hot sunshine of Persecution; none but a David can then truly rejoice in it, and there find comfort, and refreshment. Thirdly, our charities are exercised by Afflictions, when we teach as well by example as Precept, in our cheerful, innocent, and charitable undergoing them. Thus Saint Paul propounds himself a pattern for us to transcribe, 1 Cor. 4.6. that with those in the Revelations we might follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth, though not in equal paces, yet in slow motions, Joh. 14.4 who thus suffered to leave us an example (and he that was the way sure best knew how to guide it) that we might follow his pattern at least, * Heb. 12.2. Jo. 14.6. if not commands; for Regis ad exemplum, the King is the great wheel in the State, that carries the inferior ones with him; the examples of great men usually having a compulsary power in them, even from a principle in nature. Thus one Deer leads the whole heard, one bird the flock, one * Gal. 2.14. Peter a congregation. And therefore we ought to carry the lantern in the Poop, to let the light of our Actions still show the way we steer in the greatest storms to recover a happy haven, that other weather beaten Passengers may by it know how to ride out a Tempest, and arrive the same port. Thus a dead man sometimes makes a living Christian, and propagates by suffering, the blood of the Martyrs being the generative seed of the Church, Phoenix like one rising out of the urn, and ashes of the other, the effusion of one man's blood being as it were the transfusion of the same spirits into many, or with Pythagoras, one soul animating (in a succession) divers bodies, ever gathering strength under pressures, with the Camomile growing best when most trod on, and with the Palm most spreading when oppressed with any weight. Thus God defects, and anatomizes some, in them to read a Lecture to all: and so truly makes our Crosses become a Crown of rejoicing to others, * 2 Thes. 1.4.5. as the Apostle saith, and our Afflictions but like the shaking of a ripe flower, which by it sheds seeds, from whence many more do spring, and grow, till the hand of God do pluck them to adorn his own Garland with in heaven. Fourtenthly, God's hand upon us calls for ours upon ourselves, humiliation as well as humility, and not with the worm turn again upon him that treads upon us, but we must judge & afflict ourselves, and be most forward in a holy revenge to crucify those sins, that most crucify our Saviour, and by their death to give life to the contrary virtues, by our outward comportment showing our inward affections, and not only bear when God lays it on, but take up the Cross to Cross ourselves, when our sins, or Gods threatened judgements calls for it, not putting the evil day from us with joy and gladness, eating of flesh, and drinking of wine, (which is to be possessed with a strange devil, if taken in excess, someties casting us into the water, and sometimes into the fire) when God calls us to weeping and mourning, * Js. 22.12.13. and baldness, the true Emblems of Repentance; not court our eyes with vain objects, suffering them to be burning glasses of lust to inflame the heart, when they should be fountains of tears to quench the inflamed wrath of God against us for our sins, not feast to nourish, when we should fast to mortify sin in us, not ravish our senses with harmonious Music, when our sad consort should be made up of signs, and groans (the most melodious voices for God's choir, though harsh, and shrill in our ears) not gratify our Palates by plundering all the Elements of their luxurious dainties, to furnish our Tables, (and with the ewe tree root ourselves in the graves, and ruins of others) when we should come nearest the invitation of Angels in their abstinence, not rock ourselves into a sleep, and lethargy of sin in Beds of Ivery, but tame our rebel lusts by watching, and holy vigilancy. * Amos. 6. * Joel. 2. Jsa. 1: Jam. 4. * 1 Cor: 11.32. For thus afflicting ourselves with rods, we shall avoid Gods correcting us with scorpions, and make our lowest descent here the ground of our Exaltation; Like that of Christ, who was therefore raised because he humbled himself to the greatest depth of Ignominy, scorn, and self abasement, even all degrees of Punishment, Pain, shame, and Death. And the servant you know, should not be above his Lord, but (as he was) be made perfect through sufferings, which made Solomon say, * Eccl. 7. that the house of mourning is better than that of mirth; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better, whereas unseasonable or immoderate pleasure like a surfeit, is ever the mother of some disease, some grievous punishment. And if we once come not only to please but pride ourselves in them (nay in our best graces; even the correcting ourselves in those excesses) like a gangrene in a joint, it will corrupt the whole frame, and cannot but ruin us, that cast the Angels out of Paradise itself. But if we cast ourselves down before God, and like stars the higher they rise, still lessen in our own eyes, he will raise us; for like the best mines, a Christian the deeper and lower he is in the earth, (in thoughts of mortality and mortification) the richer; it being the valleys, not shelving hills that drink in (and so become fair and fruitful with) the blessing from above. Nay it is the bruised reed, and smoking flax, that God studies to preserve * Mat. 12.20. , when with Hugo, Presumption robs us of our God, and his protection, envy of our neighbours, and anger of ourselves, unless it be against ourselves, for then only it turns into self love. Lastly, and most properly God sends afflictions for the trial of our patience, in that it never appears but under pressures (though, if true, it is always waiting upon God in habit and affections) and is the souls retiring room in all distresses; a Mount Zion, which is not to be removed, * Jsa. 26.20 21. Psa. 125. but standeth fast for ever (a). A piece of earth as the Spaniards say, however trod upon, and exposed to injuries, that is the last thing that triumphs over its enemies: A grace that ever shows best with the Diamond, upon a dark foil; a well drawn picture, whose groundwork is ever laid in the saddest colours, and like the spangled canopy of heaven ever shines brightest when the curtains are drawn, and the chamber hung with blacks in the most sad and darkest night of temptation. Thus this Grace did shine clearest in the setting of the Sun of Righteousness, * Luk. 21.10. and his greatest eclipse upon the cross, who did then possess his soul in patience, (b) when torn from his body by his passions, for thither it retired against the wrath of God, and malice of men, as to the heart sconce, or fort Royal for security, which is never to be taken by famine, nor the assault of any enemy: In that patience (if pious) is so fortified (having the strength of all the other graces, and God himself to be its hiding place, strength, shield, and deliverer c Psal. 23 35.37.119.114. , the rock upon which it is built) as it can never be overcome, nor want a rich harvest for supply of provisions, when most straitened; for it can bring forth humble and penitent (though not repining) tears, which are ever a rich granary to the godly, in that God will feed them with the bread of tears, and (though it be but a thin and penitential diet,) will make them as the staff of food to nourish and support them, when all other refreshments fail d Ps. 42.13.80.5. Matt. 5.4. Luk. 6.21. . And at last, when almost exhausted, they have a voice and cry loudest, * Psal. 6. and have such a charming sound, such a powerful oratory in them, as God himself cannot resist it, but presently approaches like a man of war, and brings relief to streightened and besieged patience. And if the batteries of the enemy shall not only have destroyed and demolished its towers, and turrets of ornament, but thrown down all its upper rooms of state and conveniency; Patience can lodge more safely and as contentedly upon the lowest floor amongst the rubbish and ruins of a decayed greatness; knowing that he cannot want the conveniency of any place, that hath God with him that fills all places, but chiefly makes his servant's Prison his Mansion to abide in with them (be it spoken in a pious sense) and needs no rich Tapestries for State, but humility; no perfumes, but Prays; no Ornaments but the Graces, no Crown but the Cross, though then he will turn our Crosses into Crowns, our pressures, into Praises, ravishing us with Anthems of delight, composed of sighs, and groans. From all which considerations, if the feet of the Messengers of Peace are beautiful, what welcome entertainment ought we to give Afflictions, which are the Heralds of it, and are sent but to force us to a Parley and accommodation with our God, and by depressing, studies our advancement. * Luk 6 ●3. Jam. 1. ●. Nay let us be glad, and rejoice in them, when they are upon us; for when oppressed with sin, they are our Purge, Christ's blood our Cordial; and than though my Physician come with a bitter potion, with fire to burn, and cauterize me, he is still but an Enemy to my disease, not me, whether he cure by a long or short Diet. Yet in regard of the sense of our weakness, which will sometimes say to us (perhaps as the Angel did to joseph) Arise, take up thy young, and tender babe, * Mat. 2.13. (thy weak and new borne faith) and fly, we may seek our own preservation; both pray, and endeavour to avoid an approaching persecution, or trial; For better a holy flight, than a presumptuous stay, by which we tempt the Tempter. And this we have from Christ, both by precept and example; in that he commands us to Pray, Lead us not into Temptation, but when they persecute you in one City, fly to another; And did many times with draw himself in the like case from the malice of his Enemies. For though we may not leap over the wall, or by any unjust means preserve ourselves, we may go out of Prison (from our troubles) when God open us a door, and gives us an honest and fair opportunity, and not by a rash boldness provoke a danger (against all circumcellious whatsoever) for so Christ walked no more openly, * Joh. 11.54. but sought sanctuary, and safe quarter in the wilderness, when he could not enjoy it in the City, like a wise Pilot not splitting his vessel on a Rock, when he can with a fair wind put into a harbour; accounting it rather murder, than Martyrdom to attempt a danger, where it may lawfully be avoided; which made the God of all power fly from weak man, * 1 Pet. 2.2. and Saint Paul escape without sin, * Act. 9.25. when Peter sinned by his too much confidence * Mat. 16.26. for God Almighty is so wise a General, as to keep a reserve, and not hazard all upon one battle, but made Zoar Lot's retreat from Sodom, and his destroying Angel. So as we must not with the Dolphin hunt the storm, yet with a well poised zeal willingly, not wilfully bear it, when it comes, in a conformity to Christ, as a pledge of our filiation for his Glory, our sanctification, and profit a Rom. 8.29. Phil. 1.29. 1 Pet. 4.16. 1 Pet. 3.15 ; for the best things here are but a dim vesper of a more glorious festival, and the time of enjoying them but a poor half Holiday to Eternity. And therefore let us, with the Apostles take joyfully the loss of all for God, b Act. 4.41. who will then strike a noon day's light into the saddest night-piece of Afflictions; turn our Gibbets, and places of execution into Triumphal Arches, and make us persecute our persecutors more with our patience, than they can us with their torments. But that man, that will be his own God (delivering himself by any unlawful means, or fly when God's glory, or the Churches good commands his stay) is not as one saith, his own man. Therefore lets us still enjoy ourselves by patience, c Psal. 37. our brethren by Charity, and our God by faith, making every submissive Act a Confessor (as the babes before they could speak,) and ourselves in habit, and resolution Martyrs, every light Affliction but like a rub to an overthrown bowl, to help, not hinder us towards our mark: And then undergoing all for a good cause, it will save us, when we cannot save it (but must see the Ark taken by the Philistines, and the glory departed from Israel) d 1 Sam. 3. if we suffer without murmuring, where we cannot act without sinning, and die when we cannot do against our own conscience, or God's commands; since God by it doth but take us into safe Garrison from a bloody field e Act. 21.13. ; yet his Grapes must be thus pressed before they yield the joy of gladness to us; nor then, if we bear it not with Innocence, meekness, and contentedness For it is not the outward Act, but the inward Affections, and intentions, that makes a good and a happy man, and turns the stake into his Theatre the only place of his joy, and triumph. Of Jnnocence. 1. O Blessed Innocence, the perfection of the triumphant Saints, the beauty of Angels, the life of heaven, Image of God, nay God himself, how art thou attainable here below, since thou only inhabitest above? Yes, God in his humiliation, and becoming the Son of man, made it descend with him both for our Imputation, and Imitation, that we the children of men, might become the sons of God. Sons both by Adoption, and similitude, and represent him in likeness, and Image; in perfection of parts, though not dimension, (as a child a man in little) for we must be innocent, as he was innocent, in quality, not equality of purity and holiness; for in Christ it was like water in the fountain, clean, and pure; in us, as in the stream, terrene, and muddy; only, we must draw our lines, and write as near the Original as we can, even Christ's example, and transcribe that Primitive and true Copy of Innocence in an active and legible Character, that as he, so we may not be only Innocent in sufferings (Dovelike without all gall, and bitterness) but suffer Innocently, as false, and yet true, as Dying, and behold we live, * 1 Pet. 2. 2 Cor. 4.6. blessing our enemies, and praying with Saint Steven for our persecutors, ever overcoming evil with good turns * Pro. 26.32.19.11. and accounting it the greatest victory to overcome, and conquer one's self. For thus suffering according to the will of God, and committing ourselves to him in well doing, as into the hands of a faithful Creator, * 1 Pet. 4.19. he will do well for us, and preserve us by his power unto salvation, * 1 Pet. 1.5 and turn our white robe of Innocency here, (though full of unclean spots) into an immaculate one of glory. 2. Meekness is a calm and quiet temper of the soul, and (as walls and bulwarks to a City) * Prov. 25.28. defends the man against anger, and all such passions (which are but a kind of short madness) that would conquer reason, and so turn the man out of doors, out of himself; nay if this grace be wanting, it opens a breach for the enemy to enter, and not only carri's us captive from ourselves, but our God too, who is not to be found in the storm, nor earthquake, but in the still calm, and gentle voice, (as to Elias) whereas a meek man is like the bowl or great branches of a Tree, not to be shaken by the greatest tempests; thus a Heathen, Architas could esteem it, when he would never revenge an injury (if angry) but upon himself. So Socrates, when Xantippe threw water in his face, made no answer, but that after a storm rain was seasonable, and that he saw the same face upon all events. And shall they in this be more than men, and we Christians less than some beasts? O no. Let us by this temper bear all things without disturbance (afflictions from God, Injuries from men) for like milk it will soon quench wildfire, In that a soft answer, as Solomon saith, endeth strife: and like Mouse are though it be silken in the handling, can with its juice cut the hardest Iron, mollify and soften the most stony heart, and overcome both God and man; when all passions if unbounded, like the evening fogs in some Countries, prove deadly, discolour and taint the vessels they are in, like the worst poisons; which made the Lion of the tribe of Juda suffer like a Lamb (the Lamb of God.) And therefore as the print of that Seal at least, let meekness and softness of spirit be stamped upon all our actions, that we may not become our own tormentors. And 1. Towards God, for when he afflicts, silence is our best expostulation, dumbness our best oratory. And thus David a man after Gods own heart framed his a Ps. 37.7. ; or if we say any thing, let not our disease (as in hot fevers) break out at our lips in any impatience, but with good Ely in an humble submission, confess it is the Lord, Let him do what seemeth him good b 1 Sam. 3.28. , for the recipe and medicine must be wholesome however sharp, if God be the Physician. 2. Towards our Enemies, and persecutors, knowing it is the glory of a man to overcome injuries, and because the wrath of man worketh not not the will of God; * Jam. 1. it is the will of God to punish the fury and wrath of man, but contrarily to reward him for sufferings: many times making our bitterest cup, even death itself, but a morning's draught to Eternity, and often to draw our enemies from admiration to the love and imitation of us, and makes the conqueror a captive to the conquered, teaching them the way to happiness by our unhappiness; rectifies the Crooked line by the strait, their cruelty in imposing by our meekness in suffering; or else makes us take a godly, though unwilling revenge, by heaping coals of fire on their heads, and inflaming the very flames of hell against them; however meekness will be our ornament. * 1 Pet. 3.4. James 1.20. * Prov. 25.28. No Jewel being so precious in the eyes of God, nor any thing raising us so much above the sphere of man, in that it makes us become a miracle of wonder to others, and is to ourselves an earnest of future blessedness, to which all present felicity is but as a drop to the Ocean, a spark to the whole Element of fire; yet, let us from hence learn not to destroy, but regulate our passions. For as we may be angry, and not sin in it; so in some cases we may sinne in not being angry for God; * Eph. 4 26 Anger, and many other passions being like some stars, * P●. 22. 1●9.29. good or evil only in regard of their conjunction. 3. Contendednesse, is a virtue that makes a man Master of his own happiness, the storehouse of his own wealth, which made cyneas wish Pyrrhus to enjoy his present comforts, without staying for the conquest of the Romans, & Africans; and sets him above the mastery of Fortune, knowing it is from within, not without that must make him rich; for with Plutarkes' mule, the contented man can be pleased to want his golden carriage, knowing that all worldly things are but as a wait to slow us in our journey to heaven; the greatest preferments but glorious servitudes, and rich fetters, which made Pyrrhus say, his victories were enough to undo the Conqueror, in that what is got by power is commonly kept with care and hazard; especially, if like flies that most commonly suck their nutriment from wounds and sores, we live upon the blood and tears of other men. And if a heathen could be master of such a pious moderation, let us make it the centre of our desires, as most diffusive of equal Justice to all, and most uniting, and reconciling all extremes from a middle symbolising with both; and if like a still we thus keep ourselves in a moderate temper, we shall willingly want with submission, what we cannot get by lawful means, knowing that all things in this world (even life itself) are but the dress, and shadows of good, when virtue only, and a happy death brings the refined part. But admit there were true happiness in enjoying the best coloured dirt, or any outward splendid greatness, yet he that desires no more than he hath, hath in that more than any other can enjoy in having their desires in all things else. For there, as in a dropsy, drinking doth but increase thirst, and desire being infinite (in respect of the bounded joys of this world) hath absent not present felicity for its object, and is so fare here from being satisfied, that the worldly man's happiness doth but increase his Trouble, like Alexander's, whose heart enlarged with his possessions (so as one world could not fill it) but lost his felicity in that he had won, by wishing for another that he might conquer, whereas contented poverty is a happy Fortune (because it fixeth our restless desires;) yet than we may invert it with Seneca, and say, It is not poverty, if it be content; how much more therefore should we Christians learn with Saint Paul, in what condition soever we are, * Phil. 4. to centre in a submissive satisfaction, taking no dividing, distracting thoughts, and care for any thing, no not for food, and raiment, * Matt. 6. though of all things else they entitle themselves to our Assiduity, and diligence in their obtaining. But let us cast our burden, and care upon God, for he beareth the one, and is ever mindful of the other. * Ps. 37.55.22. 1 Pet. 5.7. Nay he hath promised, that if we first seek the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, all these things shall be added, a Mat. 6.33. as an over weight to us, added, not given, because of no great worth nor value with a pious man, if we cast ourselves upon him in a holy recumbency, and fiducial confidence for the rest. b Ps. 34. Jsa. 26. A most holy thirst or way to want nothing necessary for us, yet here we must only leave the event to God, not omit any lawful and moderate endeavour on our parts, as subservient to his providence, which ordinarily doth not carry us from one extreme to another but by middle ways; for though he provides our daily bread, he gives it only to them, that ask, and labour for it; * 1 Tim. 5.8. but when our actions as well as our tongues, put forth their voice they cry aloud in the ears of God, * Mal. 3. and never miss of a blessing; for as he that gives us life, cannot want means to continue it (in that he can make the rich man's barn the poor man's magazine) so by giving one, he becomes our debtor for the rest, Deus donando debet, if we cancel not our title by distrust; Gods present benefits, being engagements to future mercies, like Jacob, and Esau, one having a hand upon the others heel, they come into the world as twins. Nay, it were the greatest Atheism, and infidelity in the world to think (if we be not wanting to ourselves) that God either can or will let us want any thing that is good, * Rom. ●. when to convince us, he doth not only send us to his promises, but to his unexampled goodness, even towards his irrational creatures; to the lily of the field, which saith he, neither spins, nor takes pains; to the fowls of the air, which neither sow nor reap; and shall not we ask as Saint Paul in another place says of Oxen, doth God take this care of flowers, birds & beasts, and shall he not much more provide for man, for whose use, service, and delight, those creatures were made? Nay, should we want bread, yet we shall not want life; for man of all creatures lives not by bread only, but by the blessing of God upon him. For thus God can give forty day's sustenance in one small refreshment as to Elias, and put leanness into the souls of those that are daily fed with quails, and manna; for his children usually far best upon a hard diet, (like many birds that grow fattest in sharpest and most biting weather) and with poor Lazarus get more health, and strength from Dives his crumbs, (the dogs ordinary) than the other from all his full dishes; and with the Nightingale sings most sweetly, when the thorn is against her breast, (most pricked, and stung by any misery,) like Paul, & Silas in their chains, nay, such is God's goodness to us, that if natural bowels fail, he will still take care of us; as of those birds that expose their young ones as soon as hatched, to a miracle for preservation, * Luk. 12.24. and will fill our mouths with a sweet dew or something nutritive from heaven, if we open them that way to call upon him in Prayer * Job. 38.41. Ps. 147.9. (so the naturalists) whereas the affluence of worldly blessings many times (like the groveling sow to her young ones) kills us with abundance. And this, as one observes, made the Raven (that was unnatural to her own Elias his caterer in his distesse, as a return of gratitude to God, for nourishing up her young one without her own breast: but I rather draw this conclusion from it, that God who made the most unnatural creature in the world so serviceable, and compassionate towards man in his distress, neither can, nor ever will want ways and means to relieve us, if our eyes be upon him (with good jehosophat when surrounded with destruction) and with job, by making our confidence in his mercies out live death itself. For certainly, God can never cast them out of his protection, that thus rely upon his providence, but will allow for necessity, though not for outward bravery, and instead of the artificial glittering beauties of the world, will clothe them with the Lilies whiteness (Innocency here as an under garment) till they be clothed upon with glory hereafter. And therefore since our heavenly Father knows better what is needful for us, than we for ourselves, and accordingly dispenses it to us most seasonably, let us submit to every condition, and rather expect a blessing upon our poverty, then desire his outward blesing with a curse; * Psa. 78. for God loves measure in all things, and gives to every living creature as they have need, and would not have the heart of man more unreasonable than the unreasonable sea (the most unquiet of all the Elements) but keep itself within fit bounds, and limits; for as just proportion of humours in the body, an equal poise of power in the state (between supreme power, and common interest) an even mixture of the elements, preserves the whole universe, so with Solomon, neither to desire poverty, nor riches, but to acquiesce in what God pleases to show his love in to us, is the middle and happy temper of a Christian, & that which makes him most enjoy himself in all conditions, and most persevering in holiness. Therefore let us moderate ourselves in our desires toward the things of this life, * Mat. 6. 1 Tim 6. Prov. 30. Heb. 2. ever looking beyond the present condition to the future event, and with Saint chrysostom, (seeing one going to execution with a crowd of attendants along the most fair and beautiful streets, and another without the countenance or company of a friend, passing the most narrow, troublesome and unpleasant lanes to a happy marriage bed) cry out, Non qua, sed quo, non via, sed finis; and think ourselves safer in shipwreck (God being our Pilot) than the wicked can be in the sunshine of their happiness, * Ps. 37. Eccl. 9 in that it cannot go ill with the righteous when the wicked must perish; * Eccles. 8. Job. 2●. Eccles. 2. Psal. 34. 1 Pet. 3.4. 2 Cor. 1.4.6. nay for our further comfort we shall not live altogether upon expectation, depend upon reversions, and have our wages deferred, for Godliness is great gain, having the Promises both of this life, and that to come, even present happiness in the most unhappy outward condition, in afflictions, wants, necessities, and death itself; for though the man that is earthly, as well as earth, looks upon them in a multiplying glass of sense, and Perspective of Fancy, and by it apprehends them more greater, and fuller of horror, than they are in themselves (and so becomes his own wrack, and tormenter) the good Christian, considering the least benefit he enjoys, a mercy and blessing, every evil he wants, a favour and indulgence; when many better than he, wants what he possesseth, and suffers under greater miseries, that he better merits; finds in this vale of misery many such wells to refresh at, and can by Faith (which easily works such miracles) unmask the satire, unsting the viper, and turn the seeming evils of this world into a real good; for their vizard being once off, their venom out, there is nothing left to affright us, but many times they work for our advantage, even in regard of present felicity, by want making us become rich, and by an holy chemistry turning all those Irons that enter into our souls into golden sceptres (in token of our conquest over our affections) emblemd by the woman in the wilderness, who then, and in that sad and solitary condition, tramples upon the moon, all terrene things: for when one depth calleth upon another, our misery upon God's mercy, * Isa. 9 Dan. 9 Job. 13.10 Jer. 9.28. Jsa. 1.26.43. Jam. 4.8.10. Exod. 34. Psal. 103. he is so delighted with himself in the exercise of that attribute, that he makes it at it were his darling, and the child of his nature, * 2 Cor. 1.3. (as Christ is the son of his person) exalting it above all his works, (nay and ours too, works of sin to conquer, and destroy them) and to turn our Egyptian darkness and servitude into a Goshen, giving us for outward afflictions inward joys; for earthly losses, true and lasting delights; satisfaction in poverty, when many are poor, when richest; a heart not to desire, which is more than we can desire besides: and drawing more relief from this dry Cistern, than Tantalus when in the River to the mouth, a holy riddle, gaining by loss, and losing by gain, an improving of our joy a hundred fold with persecutions by losing our goods; * Matth. 10. Mark 10. Job. 31. in regard of inward peace, and complacency; the issue; and crown that follows it, if we can but learn with Saint Paul equally to want, and abound, in what condition soever to be content, * Ph. 4. Prov. 1.14.13.7. and by it make afflictions become a real lie, & our selus a holy paradox when in having nothing we enjoy all things. * 2 Cor. 6. For if God be Christ's, and Christ be ours, as the Apostle argueth, we have in him, as spring, and fountain all other joys, and comforts, that are but derivative from him; and in their several streams communicated to us, and need look no farther then to him for supply of all things fit for our condition. And therefore it is good to trust, and wait with David for his salvation, who can make our prison a Palace, our death a life, our hell here a heaven in regard of inward comforts; if in the damp of affliction, (when our candle burns dim by our being too much undergrown in our affections) we make haste to be drawn up, and set our conversations for heaven, and heavenly objects. But admit that with afflictions God gives not that blessing in this life, so as in all the travel of our souls add sharpest throws we cannot be delivered of this promised seed, and numerous issue of happy fruits, (the effects, and productions of God's grace, and goodness to us), but when the Children are come to the birth, we want strength to bring forth, so that with Phineas his wife, * 1 Sam. 4. we miscarry in our Pangs, and lose our lives, before our weak, though true, faith, and feeble midwife patience can deliver us of those expected joys: yet then (and never till then) we begin to live: the Act of our conscientious death, for Christ, and a good cause, being our crown of life (deferred only because we sought it not as we should, not lost) our inthroneing, * Rev. 2. and inauguration in immortality, if we persevere in a patiented, pious, and humble comportment in our sufferings; for it is not our resisting (though to some drops of blood, if we make a dishonourable retreat, but keeping the field dead, if not alive, that inables, and entitles us to the Gardland, and Trophies of victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who will swallow up the victory of the grave, and make it become the grave of its own victory, by giving up all it's slain, and becoming a slave to its captives; for he that makes the green Tree become dry, (he that thinks himself full of sap; and life to faide and die) will make the dead, and withered one to spring again, and flourish; * Is. 17.24. nay, with gideon's, * Jug, 7. till these earthen Pitchers of our bodies are dashed in pieces, the lamp of our souls will never shine clear, but then God reassuming them from the ashes of their cold urns, will make them as sockets, in which their souls shall in endless glory burn; And therefore, though God have his furnace, it is but to melt and refine us, to new cast, and stamp us with his own Image, and make us, currant money for heaven, which is the true end of (as it puts an end to) all the Afflictions of the godly, * 2 Cor. 1.4, 6. and for sowing in tears here, makes us reap joy, * 1 Pet. 3.4 if we are not harder and more rebellious against God's rod, * Eccl. 7. * Mat. 5. Ps. 126.6. than the flinty Rock was to Moses (where fire rather than water was to be expected). Yet let us be Flints too in our inwards, ever keeping a virtual fire, and zeal to God's glory, to purge us from all dross, and sin: for without it none shall enter into Paradise, nor be made heirs of immortal glory. * 1 Cor. 6. Rev. 22. So as you see our natures had need every way to be wrought upon; we are such a masterpiece of perverseness, such mettle as will not take impression from soft means, but must have the rough hammer and Axe of Afflictions to hue, and fashion us, though like the sun beams they work according to their object, melting wax, and hardening Clay, winning upon the Godly, but obdurating the wicked, as the hammer the Anvil; and this makes God sometimes angry, that he might not be angry with us, lightning before he thunders, warning before he wounds, * Ps. 7. afflicting here to take away sin, * Is. 27.2. ● Jer. 4, 5. that by continuing in sin we might not be everlastingly afflicted. And because prosperity makes us unprosperous (in that we are naturally prone to turn God's blessings into curses, a Ps. 69.106. Mal. 1.2.9 Pro. 1.31 and never cry, Lord save us, we perish, but with the Disciples in a storm, * Mat. 8.24.27. Luke 8. ) God raises Tempests amongst us that (with jonas, and the Mariners) may force us to call upon our God; for then are we only saved, when we think ourselves nearest drowning, * Mat. 10● and may say with the Philosopher, Perijssem, nisi periissem, so as we ought to be contented in all estates. Thus the dead womb of Sarah will conceive, and bring forth an Isaac of comfort, our winter dying blasted condition will spring, and revive in death, and make it better in the wise man's opinion, than birth, * Job. 5. Eccl. 7 ●ob. 14.19. in that it changes our habitation, earth for heaven, and extinguisheth our rent here (fears, and tears) giving garments of gladness for those of heaviness, for finite sorrows, joys beyond Arithmetic to number; Is. 61. Cor. 7.6. and in our passage over this red Sea will be both our way, and support; never laying any burden upon us but lending his own shoulder to it, with the temptation ever giing the issue, * 1 Cor. 10 3. Heb. 12. and like a good Gardiner never cuts his Rose bush, but to render its flowers more sweet, and flourishing; like a good Physician never lets us blood, but to cure our Tympany of Pride, dropsy of covetousness, or the like, and never tempts but only for trial, not seduction, nor withdraws himself, but to make us the better value his presence, and favours (contraries being the best comments upon one another) yet let us ever pray against this last as most dangerous, but still rely upon him; never letting go our Anchor, which will in the end, above, beyond, nay without means save us; * Isa. 43. Psa. 91. Ph. 2.4. for if the Potter will not let his vessel continue in the fire to destroy, but lute and fix it, the carrier not overload his beast, God much more remembering how weak we are built, and our foundations to be but dust, * Psa. 103 will weigh out his pressures to our abilities, shortening our pains, or enlarging our patience, making all things to work for our good; * Rom. 8. the lines how contrary soever drawn to centre in our happiness; and though in misery we think our time stands still, like joshuahs' sun; it then hath wings, upon which we soar towards heaven. Nay, God will not only work thus for us, * Ph. 2.13. Isa. 26.12. Heb. 8.10. Eph. 1. Gal. 2.20. but in us, by us, and upon us what he commands from us, filing us to make and form us vessels for his temple, hewing and squaring us, as timber for his Sanctuary, hammering our stony hearts for his spiritual building, smoothing and polishing us for beauty and Ornament, and to show his own resemblance, and Image in us, when he in any of these ways reflects upon us. But to conclude, God takes that care of us in all things as nothing can hurt us, no temptation on the right nor left hand shall ever finally prevail against us, but God will turn our deepest sorrows into our highest joys, so as if in the fire of public miseries, (our homebred dissensions which like Samsons Foxes devour all before them) the inward warmth of compassion, burn of repentance, heat of zeal to God's house or glory, do as from a limbeck distil some heavenly drops from our eyes, turn our laughter into mourning, and make us rain upwards, that very trouble will improve to happiness, and those drops turn into the water of life to us, and being kept in God's bottle * Psal. 58. will fall down again upon us in refreshing dews to allay our greatest inward storms; nay they are in God's book to wash out our sins, that should be there registered against us (yet only as a means of obtaining mercy, not from any intrinsic worth) and out of our consciences the blackest Characters of acted transgressions. Nay, these eye Jewels, or pearls in the eyes, falling from them will so clear the sight, as we shall discern the glittering vanities of this life to be but mere shadows, shining meteors, nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit, * Eccl. 1. ●. and not fall in love with that face that will not stay to be saluted, but rather see beauty in the blackamoor; love the wrinkles, and blemishes that the truest picture of misery (man under the Torrid Zone of God's Fatherly displeasure) can present; * Isay. 53. for so we may espouse an abiding happiness, and have eternity for jointure settled upon us. * Act. 14.22. And therefore let us with patience run the race (how rugged, and difficult soever we find the way) looking to jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith, that with him, and for him, we may endure the Cross, despise the shame for the joy set before us. * Heb. 12. For suffering with him, we shall assuredly be glorified together, * Rom. 8.17, 18. he shining like the sune, and fountain of light, we like lesser stars borrowing our lustre from him, (being for ever fixed in the same Orb) without either wain or Eclipse, enjoying perpetual day without night, joy without sorrow, satisfaction without satiety, a happy eternity, an eternal felicity, heaven being the only Olympus above the meteors, and storms of this world which for its inconstancy is in the Revelation Emblemd by a Sea, and that of glass, for its frailty, and brittleness; in its form circular, and moving to show the inconstancy of all things in it; its matter fading, vanishing, and dying; to teach us the perishablenesse, and certain mortality of all its beauties: for as the Father is, such are the Children, all but empty glories; nay man himself, the Master piece of nature, and comprehension of all other beings, and perfections, close bound up in a little volume (if we look into his materials, the weakness and short continuance of the building) we can account but as a vapour, a shadow, a bubble, that soon vanisheth; a walking piece of earth, a well glazed pitcher, soon broken; a heap of ruin, rather than a fair structure, and in his greatest perfections a cipher or nothing. In that honour is but a blaze, or meteor, many times made up of the basest matter; a treasure without lock or key, more in the power of another, than the owner; riches but Gold; Gold, but a well coloured piece of dirt, which against nature, rather than stay to make us happy, will (though a dull, and heavy element) take wings, and fly away; fame a hollow Echo, beauty a well glazed pitcher, or fading flower, friendship a dying happiness, joy but folly, mirth a short madness; all things in their longest continuance, but a sound or flash of lightning, that dies as soon as borne; a dim glass, dark resemblance, or apparition of future happiness: for in the making of this goodly frame, (this out-building or suburbs of heaven) as in a little notebook, God only writ in short and illegible Characters (drew in model or little) those everlasting, inutterable ravishing glories, that shall be revealed when the scene is to be opened, the curtain drawn, the veil of our souls (our bodies) done away, even such as our crippled fancy, our imped and pinioned imaginations cannot soar to, and therefore with a silent admiration, a blindness occasioned by seeing the lustre of many suns at once, let us expect to enter that immense, infinite blessedness (by faith) that cannot now enter into us (into our finite capacities) and begin our heaven in our holiness, the true way, approach, and gate to happiness: and from inward principles be constant in our outward sufferings for the name or cause of Jesus, Act. 20. and so turn our enemies pity at our pressures into wonder at our patience, and our patience into an everlasting fruition of blessedness, and seal (if Gods honour require it, and our Country's good) to that truth by our deaths, we have made profession of in lives * Rev. 2.12. suffering all evil or punishment, rather than commit any the least evil of sin; for such a temper of the soul (when in the lowest centre of misery) will like fire to fuel turn all into itself, into satisfaction, if not complacency, and with the wood in Exodus will convert these bitter waters into sweet and refreshing springs. But if our weak faith doth not work such miracles, Exo. 15.25. let not our souls be vexed, nor disquieted within us, but trust in God, (as well for the resurrection of our joys here, as of our bodies hereafter) who is the help of our countenance, and our God, * Psa. 42.43. and having received press money (past favours, which are always pledges of future mercies) let us wait upon God, fight unto death, and not quit our colours for want of pay here, but expect our triumphs hereafter; when the enemy, sin, and death are totally vanquished; and in the mean time, (like Cloth in the fullers hand which must be thoroughly whited, and dressed to make up those robes of state, (the innocency of the Saints) we must be for ever adorned with hereafter) let us yield ourselves to be trampled on, and rinsed in several waters (many troubles) still fearing that if the deluge of Affliction once begin to fall, or abate, a worse slime of sin will cover the face of our earthly hearts, and we for ever may stick fast in that mire, without water to cleanse us, if the fountains opened to juda, and jerusalem for uncleanness be stopped against us, and then if the Baits of sin, delights of the world carry us along in those soft and boggy ways, and sink us deeper; how ever their entertainments are sweetened for the present with honey, we shall ever find the Bees sting in their tail; their conclusion will be bitterness; and if our tenderness shrinks at the prickling of Afflictions here, how shall we endure the wrack hereafter? if not the sparks of divine displeasure, how the flames of hell fire for ever, and ever? Now to prevent this misery, which is as immortal, as the body, the body as the soul, the soul as God himself; let us take lawful pleasures here, (when God allows them) but not suffer them to take us, yet sometimes please ourselves in the want of pleasure itself * 1 Cor. 7.29.31. ; for what we sow in weakness, shall rise in power * 1 Cor. 15. nay to Glory— nay in Glory; for as all Joys here flow into the joys of Heaven (as rivers into the Sea) so the faithful Christian shall not lose his in death. But his soul assoon as out of his body, shall only go from one Heaven to an other; for the way to Heaven is Heaven, so that as the Angels did not divest Heaven in coming to us, good souls do invest Heaven in going to them, the true joy that a Zacheus, (a soul in union with God and Christ) apprehends here, Joh 14.16 being that none can take from him. For as one saith wittily, crowd Heaven into a Map, it's two Hemispheres are made up of joy and glory, joy ushering in glory, so that in the anguish of death, agony of dissolution, vision of horror, nay sight of hell itself, I shall see the face of God; and all these will be, but as Glasses that collect, and reflect his ravishing rays upon me, adding joy to joy, and glory to both, and exchange for a great bubble (blown out with an easy breath; for that child, and darling of time, antiquity in blood, for an empty airy title, which is ennobled only by action, and retains nothing but the wax fit for any label, (if wanting the stamp of true piety and worth.) for the hollow sound of fame,) a crown that can never be lost for goodness, and virtue will reflect a brave lustre upon the memory of a dead, as well as upon the person of a living Saint; a gallant echo of praise when dead, for his praising of God, when living: and though, as one saith, envy may sometimes missed the glass of Reputation, so that it shall not report a clear light, yet at the last judgement it will reverberate truly, and we shall shine in a sphere all brightness, and be known by a transparent light on every side, what we were here, what we are in heaven, to the glory of God, joy of the Saints, shame and derision of of our enemies. So great is the convictive Majesty of goodness in the beams of the setting sun, and though the highest perfection of the soul, the most sublimed part of man here is full of imperfections, blemishes, and dying beauties, which do rather hid, then show the glory of a sanctified spirit, or the true Image of God drawn in little there; yet this way of taking God into us is our only way of being taken into God, and to make him our shield, and exceeding great reward, Gen. 5. our defence here, and Crown hereafter, when our Candles shall be put out in our earthen sockets, our lofty blown bladders empty themselves of breath, and we sleep in death, a dark Gallery, or shady walk only leading between two lives the period and Omega of the earthly man's happiness, the Alpha, and beginning of the Christians blessedness, the highest step to honour, and birth day to eternity, where we shall for ever enjoy day without night, satisfaction without satiety, a tranquil happiness in a happy tranquillity, eternal blessedness in a blessed eternity. So be it, Amen. GEntle Reader, though naturally men love the issue of their brains more than of their bodies (in that they are many times longer lived; more true and lasting records of the ennobled souls they derive their pedigree from; then the other) yet the author of this little work chose rather to be forgotten, then remembered by a piece; that (if examined by a clear and open light) will represent him with so many errors and ill drawn features to the world, and designed it only for himself and his; but truly a civility to the law of friendship (where desires are commands) and the consideration of its usefulness in regard of the unhappy Harmony between its subject and these times made me first lend (and now send it) abroad, and give it line beyond its authors intention, though not liberty to go but whether my hand directs; for I have only Printed a few Copies to satisfy some private importunities; and therefore if thou be one of that number, its failings are now mine and thine, and so entitle themselves to your forgiveness, which is the humble request of thine in all affection. FINIS.