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 [Page] Christmas, and good Friday, both Morn, and Evening of one and the same day of suf­fering; we that fight under the Banner of his Crosse, must not thinke to follow our Generall in his triumphs, if we leave him in the field, or carry no markes of Honour (Prints of his wounds) about us, which how mortall soever, never prove deadly; But as Ro­manus said, when Asclehiades made his tormentors cut and crucifie him, (Tot ecce laudant ora, quot sunt vulnera) must prove so many mouthes to praise, and glorifie God with: and not with Ionas 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, [Page 3] when Nicoreon a Tyrant would have brayed him in a morter could say, (his cause being good,) Thou canst but beat the Bag, the Sachell, not the man. Nay such hath beene the con­stancy, and courage of Hea­thens, as Iulius Caesar said when in expectation of Ship­wrack, the man may perish, his fortitude cannot. And therefore let us Christians much more contend with the Ax, grow by cutting, and with Cummin, live by dying; for if they be more then men, shall not we be more then they? and with the ball, percussa surgo, since with Plutarch in the Fable be­tweene the Sun and the winde, the roughnesse of the tempest made the travellor wrap his cloake about him (keepe what he had) the faster, when the [Page 4] silent Rhetoricke of the suns beames overcame him, and made him divest himselfe. 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, wormes, and no men, suffer our selves 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: [Page 5] so that, though our life be a warfare, and the weake built Pinnaces of our bodies are no sooner lanced out of their ports (our Mothers wombes) into the Ocean of this world,Job. 7.1. but they are torn, and tossed by the severall warring bil­lowes of various accidents, If a heavenly winde fill our sayles (the spirit of God breath gent­ly in our Prayers) and that our maine mast hold out a white Flag of Innocency inlayed with the red crosse of Christs blood, conscience being our Pilot, the Scriptures our compasse, his Promises our Anchor, and our Pole-star Christ, in Shipwrack we shall have a Planke, in the sea a Whale to preserve us, and waft us into a more safe, if not so calme a harbour, as we [Page 6] aymed 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 venome, though not the sting of those vipers; and if tossed with stormes, will put a strong Ship under them, and make the lowdest thunder, but as a lof­ty voyce, or lowd Musicke to usher in their triumph, and Coronation; And if he suffer them to be troden into the earth with scornes, and con­tempts, it is but (as Seed is bu­ryed to make it multiply the more) that they might rise the more glorious, which should encourage us to endeavour to make all events equall to us, knowing that like the best steele we may (by the grace of [Page] God) fashion them either into a sheild or sword to our selves Prosperity and Adversity be­ing but the matter, the stamp or forme ours to give, either the Lions fiercenesse, and de­structive nature, or the Lambs Innocence. For the most rough, and hard afflictions are in themselves, as all things of indifferencie, 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 sinnes) 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 wisdome to advance our hap­pinesse by sufferings, that no Person of the meanest conditi­on might misse of a meanes to [Page] felicity. And so to be not onely patiently and cheerfully submitted to,Luk. 6.28 but rejoyced in. If we suffer for righteousnesse sake,Jam. 1.2. and look to God as the Creator, and Conductor of them.1 Peter 2. For when we see the Puppits move (the men of this world bite, and wound us) we must consider an invisible hand moving the wiers, ordering the Events for his own glory, and our salvation; And in this sence, though afflictions are the onely sure inheritance of Humanity,Job. 5. (whose income is Teares, his rent for life, Cares, and Feares: his outgoings, horrour and trouble in the force of natures dissolution) they are more peculiarly the Portion of the righteous,Lam. 3. Heb. 12. Amos. 3. who like a square die will stand firme though cast upon any [Page 9] chance, (which made So­crates say; an honest man was a square man, one that would be himselfe in all conditions) and as a well built Arch will stand the faster, by addition of waite, and burden, or with the Center in the circumfe­rence be fixt with Iob, though all worldly things move in their vicissitudes, and severall changes to evill about him: knowing he that wounds will heale, and not onely in famine redeem from death, in warre 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 Aarons into a Rod budding new, and fresh joyes, and teach him Salamander like, to live in flames, and enter­taine [Page 10] all events with evennesse, and patience, knowing that the strongest windes, if he sayle be­fore them, will but convey him to Christ, who commands the windes and Seas, and they o­bey. But the better to prop, and support our weake, and tottering resolutions, I will raise some pillars of comfort to rest upon, if we looke 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 thornes; and bare all the waight of misery, that was laid upon them, as if they felt it no more, then those that live in the circle of the Ayre, and yet finde no pon­derousnesse in it, because no­thing [Page 11] 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 formed, cannot make him sinke under the pressure of them; especi­ally, if we consider the two chiefe ends for which they are sent, Gods glory, mans salva­tion, and every way Advan­tage.

First, afflictions are sent ma­ny 1 times for Gods glory; not as punishments for our sinnes, though they are alwayes the meritorious and occasionall cause of judgements. Thus the blinde man in the Gospell wanted his sight,Jo. 9.2. [...] (and with Tobias recovered it by this gaul of afflictions) that we might see the power, and mer­cy of God in his deliverance [Page 12] both from corporall and spiri­tuall blindnesse; for as con­traries are the best Comments upon one another; so Gods Goodnesse, and Greatnesse most appeares in bringing health out of Sicknesse, Light out of Darknesse, and forming all the well ordered, and vari­ous beauties of the world out of nothing, or a Chaos, and great Masse of confusion; hap­pinesse out of misery, glory out of sufferings, giving victo­ry in thraldome, and triumph to his when conquered, as the true trophies of Christian mag­naminitie, 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 Arke however floating upon the proud imperious high swelling [Page 13] waves, sinkes not, but when threatned to be involved in the whole worlds generall destru­ction, having but one common winding-Sheet (the pleated waters) and as it were one common buriall place, then is preserved, and by those wate­ry rising mountaines but lifted up the neerer heaven, God as it were like another Neptune imbarking himselfe in (and hazarding Shipwrack with) his Church.

Secondly, they are sent 2 for our salvation, not as a cause of, but way to glory; as they are a meanes of our ho­linesse here (in that whosoever will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer afflictions) and happinesse hereafter;2 Tim. 3.12. there be­ing no way to ascend the mount of honour but by the [Page 14] steps of vertue through a rough, and difficult path; no Haven to be gained unlesse we passe the straits; no way to hea­ven but by the gates of hell; for unlesse we fill up the suffer­ings of Christ in his body the Church, and beare his crosse we cannot be partakers of his Crown, induring 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 destroyes, 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 Marchant would not to recover his wished haven with a wealthy lading be con­tented to have his vessell wea­ther [Page 15] beaten, and torne? and much more a Christian, that is a man of warre; a Barke built for all weathers, stormes, and Calmes, knowing that the rough Sea proves the Pilot, and makes him keep at the sterne and helme, using all holy en­devours to avoid every Rock, and Sand of Temptation, and ply the pumpe upon the least leake, knowing that the smal­lest sinne unrepented, neglect­ed, or not with Jonas throwne over-bord to appease the storme, will sinke the tallest vessell, and better unlade all then the man should perish. Nay, shall our Lord, Head, and Generall be all wounded, torn, and exposed to all degrees of suffering for us, and shall not we (his Church, and members) undergoe some troubles, in­dure [Page 16] a scratch, or weare a scarre for him? shall hee drinke up the full Cup, and showres of his Fathers wrath, and shall not wee taste of those few remaining drops for him? shall innocence suffer, and guilt goe free? nay, shall God dye for man, and man undergoe no pressure for God? nay, for himselfe, his own advantage, where dis­sectings are recompactings; God forbid. No, away with such pusillanimity, my soule, and leave not thy Saviour in his sufferings for thee. Though thou art called with Simon of Cyrene to take up his Crosse (or rather thine,Isay. 53. which he bore for thee) and beare it for him, till thou comest to Golgatha, the place of Sculs, (thy grave) nay, further, if [Page 17] possible. For as a devoute man said, if he could finde or apprehend any defect of joy in heaven, it would be onely in that he could not there suffer for his Saviour. Though what we undergoe here is not more for his glory, then our bene­fit. And therefore as Musick is sweetest, when expiring, let the last swanlike 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 possesse our soules, as we shall onely account our life from our Death, and that our birth day to Eternity, Our eve or vigil to our great festivall at the marriage of the Lambe; for as God moved upon the waters in the Creation, before [Page 18] 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 wombe of the virgine, till Christ be formed in us, and we bring forth holi­nesse, which he ever crownes with happinesse. Now though these are the first, Primary, and Principall ends, why Gods children are thus brought forth with labour, & sorrow (a curse as ancient as sin it selfe) there are many other practicall uses, and pious considerations we should entertaine 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 teares the cleerest Perspective [Page 19] in an Eclipse of Gods 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 carefull of our wayes. Like the Horse that ever goeth surest, and best when he feeles the spurre, and bridle the ma­riner that most useth his plum­met, and compasse in stormes. And thus we will consider af­flictions.

First, as they are incentives 1 to Prayer, and like fire extract the best incense of our devoti­ons, making them to ascend in a holy flame of zeale to medi­ate our peace, and pacifie an exasperated Deity, whose Power, Justice, and Mercy are [Page 20] all ingaged to deliver them, that in afflictions call upon him.

Ps. 30.34 107. Hos. 5 Esay 49.3. Lam. 3.For then we doe their er­rand, and cannot misse of a Gracious Audience no more then Abraham, where Dust and Ashes pleaded with his maker, and as it were so charmed his eare with this Oratory, that importunity it selfe could not weary him.Gen. 18. Nay with this spi­rituall Ingine, Impotence and weaknesse 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 doe no­thing, Exod. 32. Numb. 14. as to Moses. Thus a faithfull Prayer workes all kinds of miracles, makes the Heavens, Earth, and Seas obey. [Page] For when the gasping Earth is dying for Thirst, Elias can by Prayer quicken and enliven it. It can fix the Sunne in the fir­mament, as in a Center, give Eares to the Grave, and make them open, and life to the dead;Jo. 12. And ever nests a Christi­an, (like a Dove in the clifts of the Rock,) in the wounds of his Saviour, so as he cannot when assaulted, be sensible of any Dangers, but rests secure in stormes: whereas the wick­ed mans Prosperity is but like the winter Sun-shine, late up, and all wayes setting in thick clouds, and like the bird Cige­lus Suidas speakes of, that al­wayes dies in the act of fea­thering. And therefore with Moses, let us rather chuse to suffer afflictions with the Chil­dren of God then to injoy the [Page 22] pleasures of sinne 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 sighes, and Groanes disperse those thick vapours that E­clipse his happinesse, inlighten that Darkenesse and ushers in a most bright, glorious, and cheerfull morning. So the Prophet David, Heavinesse may endure for a night, but Ioy com­eth with the breake of day, Psal. 30. when we are saluted with the beames of the rising Sunne of Righte­ousnesse in our soules;Is. 54.1.8. Onely let us observe this, that (though in some waters the least sayle makes most speed) in these Seas all sayles must be hoysed, all the affections stirring, though a Penitents loudest [Page 23] voyce in his eye full of teares (not his tongue full of words) if God blow upon those wa­ters, and make them flow. And therefore one saith well, Teares in Prayer, or the Pray­er of Teares are the blotting out of the hand-writing, that is against us, (as a graci­ous meanes, no meritorious cause) and the usury by which the joyes of heaven are multi­plyed to us; Gods free pre­venting Grace in the applicati­on of the blood of Christ, be­ing our Stock, and Principle. Thus afflictions alarum 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 [Page 24] (soe Saint Iames) as they work every way for our good,James 1.2. and make Gods anger his Love to us; which made David cry out,Psa. 119.71. It is good for me that I have beene afflicted, and taught thy Lawes; and teach us by many other expressions, what Lemni­us saith, nostrae salutis avidus, God is most endevouring to love us, when he most corrects us, and sends Crosses like his messengers in the Gospell to compell those that neglect his Invitation, and to draw them by force to the meanes of Sal­vation; his Love, Patience, and long suffering brings not in to him,Ps. 6.126.6. ever making the matter of a good mans sorrow the cause of his rejoycing;Jer. 31.16. for Afflictions no sooner stirre up to repen­tance (as in Ephraim) but Re­pentance bringeth Reprive, [Page] and Pardon,Rom. 8. by a refined Al­chimy turning all things into good for us, and extracting the most Soveraigne Cordials out of the rankest poysons, the best Mithridate from the most ve­nemous scorpions, ever making the Lilly amongst the Thornes (the Embleme of the Church) retaine its whitenesse, her Pu­rity and Innocence, however scratched and torne, still ga­thering beauty from her skars, and with the Rose sweetnesse, when it hangs amongst the Briars, but withering, and a­bating of its Odours, if once pulled from them.

Thirdly, as they are a 3 meanes of our Perseverance in that they doe not onely call us home, but keep us steddy in our returne to it; and if we ei­ther slack in, or deviate from [Page 26] our way in Piety, like the Ri­ders hand, and heele, they ma­ny times restraine our wan­drings, and quicken us in our pace and progresse towards heaven, and as the Teather of the soule, bounds, and confines us, when our untamed disposi­tions would furiously breake forth into many Extravagan­ces, God many times curing us by Contraries; Sodoms fulnes of bread by Egypts famine; hedging us in a narrow & straite path with Thornes to walk in, when we would perhaps lay all waste before us that stands in opposition to our proposed ends, destroy Propriety, and not onely usurpe upon others interests, and ruine our owne, but invade God in his (the too much I feare practised sinne of these dayes) Onely the Princes [Page 27] of Iuda, will not, I hope, be like those that would remove the bounds,Hos. 5.10, 11. both Civill with refe­rence to the State, the fence of common interest, morall bounds, the square, and Stan­dard of our obedience, and Characters of Pure Nature, or Evangelicall (both Practicall, and Contemplative) by which we are to fashion, and order our selves in the worship of God, the inward, and outward man, thoughts, actions, and devotions, not onely acting, but enacting mischiefe, as a Law;Psal. 9 48 thus the brightest day, if the Sunne set in a cloud, will loose its Garland; our Ripest beginnings without sutable proceedings prove fruitles; our best appearances but Ciphers, which how capacious soever in the figure, and taking up the [Page 28] greatest roomes, with God sig­nifie nothing. But if when falling, God lend us his hand, by Afflictions cause our Perse­verance, Our Perseverance in Goodnesse (in quick, and sharp trials) as one of the blood Royall, and immediate heires of Gods Kingdome, crownes our Afflictions, and drawes that oyle of Gladnesse out of those flints, if we are not cowardly jealous, in suspecting what we most desire, but by Faith rely upon Gods promise for it.

4 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 Re­forme, not Punish us. And if necessity,Luke 18 which is alwayes an ill Companion (many times, a bad Counsellor) doth at any [Page 29] time, with the Prodigall make us returne to our Father with a modest bashfulnesse, and humble confession of our sins, our Remembring them, will make him forget them; Our shaming our selves 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 Sonne purpose to goe back to his Father, but He goes forth of himselfe to pre­vent him with kindnesse, for­saking as it were his Greatnesse in a Gratious Condescent to meet and embrace him: and like a carefull nurse never suf­fers him to fall againe, but to teach him the better to stand, and looke to his footing, never layes the Rod upon him, but (as we doe a whip upon a [Page 30] Toppe) to make him goe the better for being well scourged,Psal. 34.50. Js. 21.54. and layes his Corrasives to his dead flesh, not that he delights in his Paine, but intends his Cure.

5 Fifthly, we ought to beare Afflictions cheerefu ly and Thankfully, if we consider how much our sinnes 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 lesse then our Iniquities challenge from his Justice; in that he delights to shew mercy, and is alwayes unwilling to inflict Punish­ment,Jer. 46.27, 28. (but calling it his strange worke, as it were declines it,) nor strikes at all, but in mercy (and that his greatest, in that he is then said to goe out of him­selfe) ever with Jonathan [Page 31] shouting his Arrows to warne, 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 straitnes;Lam. 3. Psal. 23 to shew how hardly he pours them out upon us, and never but in measure, having his staffe to support, as well as his Rod to humble us, his Cork as well as his lead, when he sinkes us to keepe us floating, so as we cannot be drown'd, Christ our head be­ing above water. And God to assure us the more of a hap­py issue to every temptation1 Cor. 10.13. (if we waite upon him in the way of his judgements, and judge our selves to prevent be­ing further judged) will as he hath promised, make the E­lements [Page 32] loose their natures, and be our Protectors, not Executioners. For when we walke through the fire, it shall not burne us, and when we goe through the waters, they shall not over-flow us; Is. 43.2. Is. 26.8. But the1 Cor. 11.31. fiued waters shall become a hard Pavement to our feet (as to Christs upon the Sea) and the fiery furnace a safe [...]tiring place, against our Enemies; for God is alwayes tipping his speare with hony, like Iona­thans, to refresh as well as wound us.

6 Sixthly, Afflictions are sent to teach us Humility, the best Dresse, and Ornament of a vertuous soule, and to correct the high-towring vapour of Pride. Thus David, that thought in his Prosperity hee should never be removed, in Ad­versity [Page 33] could acknowledge it was God that made his moun­taine so strong: which was the Reason also that Saint Pauls Thorne in his flesh 2 Cor. 12 was not re­moved, to bring him to the knowledge of the Rock out of which he was hewen, 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 Graces inhe­rent, looking to his feet, his icy, slippery, and fraile bot­tome, might not make him proud, but standing by Gods Grace onely he might still fear to fall, falling from that feare being the undermining of the whole frame, In that the highest and firmest buildings are alwayes raised from the lowest foundations; And the [Page 34] most improved Christian ever appearing like a Pyramis (the higher it's built) the lesse, and lesse in his owne eyes (though as one observes well, Pride is natures 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 our selves; so that if we could but performe 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 soyl for better fruits, [Page 35] 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 Is­ralite, 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 plowes, and harrowes his ground, to make it bring forth the fuller harvest, that cudgels, and thresheth his walnut tree to make it Teeme and Layde its bowes, God also studies all wayes to improve our Graces, and his owne 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 returne, though in­deed [Page 36] we doe in that but gather, and carry in for our selves, when in crowning us hee crownes but his own worke in us:Is. 54. Math. 26.39. first making us beare his Crosse, and then weare 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 Iordan to our Pro­mised land, Christ Jesus.

8 Eightly, we may be encou­raged to undergoe Afflictions here, because they are not du­rable, though weighty, in that Christs Prayer hath made this Cup passant; So as the stormes of Afflictions, when they thick­en most upon us, are not stayed but moving, nay, flying away upon the wings of the winde, never enduring above a mo­ment [Page 37] in the Ephemerides of di­vine Providence,Is. 55. Psa. 31.34. however te­dious if we measure them by our measures of Time (Clocks, and dialls;) nay not a minute or expence of the least graine of Sand, if computed by the glasse 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 Diall, Point at, nay, shew the Meridian, Declining and Pe­riod of our day of Affliction, and that afternoone halfe E­ternity of happinesse 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 [Page 38] the most ponderous but a fea­ther in the scales with more exceeding, nay Eternall, nay Eternall waight nay Eternall waight of Glory, Glory for shame, waighty for light, E­ternity of injoying for a mo­mentary suffering;Rev. 7.14 and therefore though a perplexed fancy disturbing the Organs of Reason may like a false glasse multiply our troubles, and dangers, let us with a steddy faith behold them in their own Dimensions, finite in respect both of their measure and con­tinuance, And we shall soone be brought to say with Saint Paul, I have fought a good fight, J have finished my course, and now there is laid up for me a Crowne of glory.

Ninthly, Afflictions are to be welcomed, as they are [Page 39] seales 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 passe to the Land of Canaan, the Crowne of Thornes we must weare here, if we will have one of Gold with Christ in heaven.1 Pet. 4.13. Matth. 5.20. The onely Thistles, from which we may gather Figgs, and Briers, that yeeld grapes for wine to cheere the the heart, being once strength­ned with all might, according to his glorious Power, with all Patience, and long suffering with joyfulnesse.Colos. 1. For with the Roman Orators, as he lives not that hath onely the happi­nesse of this life in his thoughts, so he never dyeth, nor is ever sensible of temporary troubles, that can cast them up rightly, [Page 40] 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 vally of Teares for a mount of Joy.

10 Tenthly, consider that God layes 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 fence­eth his Vineyard with Briars, and Thornes, both to defend, and make it fruitfull, 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, [Page 41] and preserve the sinner, to de­stroy the worme and cancer, that would otherwise destroy the Tree; many times to give it shade, least too much sunne should dry and wither it; or like that in the early spring produce many gay flowers and odoriferous smels to court the senses, but withall ingender millions of flyes, and vermine, to spoile them; for so the plea­sures of this world are but a Io­nas gourd, sumer fruit, of short continuance, wheras the winter fruits, that indure most of cold and nipping frosts, are for du­rance, and lasting. Thus though great mists doe ever midwife in Calmes; the Ayre is then most tainted, and dan­gerous, whereas thunder brings forth a most whole­some, pure, serene and bright [Page 42] skie. Nay, Afflictions makes us every way better in our spirituall 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 onely Sonne; nay, they are Gods bullets shot a­gainst an Armour of proofe, to trie, not peirce it; there be­ing more strength in the Inno­cency of his Saints, then in all Goliahs Brasse and Irons, that he might treasure it up in his Militia for the honour of his Saints, and beautifying of his owne habitation.

11 Eleventhly, Afflictions are Gods love tokens to us, the Dialect in which he woes us, and true Anagram of our sins, [Page 43] (in that we may usually read our sinnes, and faylings 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 soone overshadowed; and alwayes tempered with the bitternesse of some temporary crosse, to disrellish our taste, and abate our Appetite to them; so as the rest of our bodies, many times proves our minds exercise; and our empty houres, most fill us with vaine and vexings thoughts; at best affording us but lesse paine, no absolute freedome from troubles, in our most retired retirements; for when the doores of our senses are lockt up, the Phan­tasie [Page 44] doth many times affright us with visions and terrifie us with dreames, Job. 7.14. making our waking Consciences, often Alarum our sleepy soules, by all this restlesnesse to bring us to an everlasting rest; and shall we neglect his bounty, and re­ceive with a wrinckled brow what he gives us with a sum­mer and gracious aspect? for to you it is given, not onely to be­leeve, but to suffer for Christ. Ph. 1.29 And shall we refuse to weare his favours, livery, and Cogni­sance (though a crosse) that are thus effects of his affection to us and so not only in their spring but streame; In that his provi­dence so steers the action, and orders the event in all things, as a sparrow fals not without his leave, nor can the devill en­ter into a swine (so little is the [Page 45] largest empire here) without his permission,Rom. 8.28. and makes all the variety of Accidents (how contrary soever the lines are drawne) to center in our good; so communicative of himselfe is his goodnesse to us. And therefore let not the clay di­spute with the Potter, walk­ing brickle earth with the God of heaven. For his actions are alwayes just, and good; nay full of mercy to us, though harsh; his Physick wholsome, though unpleasant, in that sometimes his greatest mercy, is not to shew mercy,Hos. 4.13 14. Isai. 1.5. Lam. 1. Wisd. 12.1. not with-hold the lance, when it is to open an impostumation. And therefore, correct me O Lord to amend me, wound me to heale me, kill me to make me live, take away all to give me thy selfe. And doe not [Page 46] 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 payes is so great, the Returne 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 seene (yet the eye is a nimble sayler, and hath travelled farre, and seene much) eare hath not heard (yet the eare hath heard more then the eye hath seene, being as it were the Portall, or gate of the soule, by which know­ledge enters, and so appre­hends more of the beauties, and Beatitudes of that place then can by all the other sences be [Page 47] discerned here, in the dim and opake glasse of the crea­tures, though God is here ve­ry legible in many of his Attri­butes) nor hath it entered into the thought of man, the joyes that shall be revealed (yet thought hath a kinde of infinity in it, and graspes more at once, then either eye, or eare can com­mensurate with the largest ex­tended faculties, and most un­bounded dimensions of their severall wayes of comprehen­sion, and discerning) having the winges, and motion of a spirit, the capacity of an intel­ligence, yet still short of ima­gining, the vast incompre­hensiblenesse of that which passeth Imagination; For such is Heaven, a circle within a circle, many infolded myste­rious joyes, which will be [Page 48] 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 heare with comfort that blessed voice of come ye blessed of my Father, & go into the Ioy that is prepared for you from the begining of the world; And not onely so, but enter into thy Masters joy nor onely that, that is prepared of God for them that love him, but that which is God, the beatificall vision it selfe. Yet here the Saints of God see the dawning of that day, a light springing out of darknesse,Psal. 112.4. and beames of comfort in the blackest night of Affliction, some love glan­ces in the most unkinde di­vorce, which is never long, though it seemes long to us.

[Page 49]Twelfthly, Afflictions are 12 sent, as trials from God, and a meanes of evidencing to our selves 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 meanes 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 staffe of his age, the summe and Reca­pitulation of all his numerous posterity: possessing as it were future Joyes, and by them was made unsensible of pre­sent troubles, or at least not re­garding them, but endured that Crosse, despised the shame, looking unto Jesus, the finisher [Page 50] as well as the author of his faith, Heb. 12.2. the comfortable beames of the sunne of righteousnesse still beating upon his soule in their strongest reflex, in the dark­est and most clouded night of Temptation, which can never be hindered by the stormy windes, because Celestiall; for true Faith becomes the strong­er by difficulties, ever prefer­ring the Crosse of Christ to the Triumphes of Emperours, and all the Crownes of Kings, and with certaine fishes mentioned by Pliny, is ever swimming against the streame, to recover the fountaine Christ, know­ing that all Refreshments are originally and virtually there; and with the needle in the mariners compasse is fixt, & un­moveable in the greatest tem­pests, because not governed by [Page 51] the turbulent, and unconstant winds, but the unchangeable Heavens, and never count it any victory to trample upon a worme (any small triall) 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 Crownes. Neither is this all, for faith can here make ab­sent things present, and con­quer, when conquered: and though humane friendship is like Quick-silver soone incor­porating with the best mettles, but in difficulties and the fire conveyes it selfe away: faith then knowes divine helpe to be most present, having the Angels for her Corps de Guard, and God his Pavilion round about her. Nay, in [Page 52] that fire, as with Moses in the bush (a strange pallace for Di­vinity to inthrone in) rather then 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 di­stresse, God will not be kept above in heaven without aIs. 52.4.5. Gen. 46.6. Ps. 46.1 what doe I here? And I will goe down, (O the exalted humili­ty of our God) to be their pre­sent helpe in trouble. Their help in, (not alwayes their de­liverance from) trouble. Indurance their companion, making their prison their hea­ven, the persecutors Chaines,Gen. 39.21. their Bracelets, and Orna­ments the Lyons, their Guardians, not destroyers, as to Daniel. In that God, and a Christian are but one in their [Page 53] 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 releive us in our necessities, (having ingaged 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 mony in their mouthes to pay our ordinary, rather then we should want to defray our charges, (as in the case of Tribute) nay, rather then the faithfull should suffer to destruction, (his Church which should appeare like an Army well ordered with ban­ners both for beauty, and ter­ror) God himselfe will in their march to Canaan be both Harbinger, Quarter-master, [Page 54] Generall, and Sutler to the Campe, making the wilder­nesse a downe bed, the Rocke a Seller, & the heavens a larder to afford them all necessaries; Nay, he will beyond it feed them to delight, even with Quailes, 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 wil give us Christ and in him; a full taste of his mercies, the onely store-house, and true Magazine, nay, the abstract, and Epitome of all the treasures both of heaven, and earth; and higher I can­not soare in this meditation. For if he spare not his sonne, but deliver him up, not onely for, but to us, shall he not with [Page 55] him freely give us all things? Rom. 8.32. Jo. 6 as the Apostle argues; all ne­cessaries here, and lasting joyes hereafter, but taking downe our earthen Cottages to re­build them stately Palaces, making every graine of dust spring innumerous fresh glories to us.

Thirteenthly, Afflictions 13 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 burne, or suffer not saith Saint Paul? Nay this fire softens our natures, makes them more pliable, malliable, and easie to take impressions from others sufferings, and so [Page 56] compassionate as to make their miseries our unhappinesse, as if one soule did animate divers bodies, and we live, and dye in one another, as it was in the Apostles times, which is the true box of Spicknard in the Canticles Christ powreth out to comfort, and refresh his spouse with, when nearest fainting under the crosse, in that their sufferings are his Crucifixions.Jsa. 63. Act. 9.5. And if God thus became man, (tooke our Ignominy and infirmities upon him) for us, shall wemen become beasts to one an o­ther? devest our selves of this most noble part of humanity, and be so farre from Christians, as not to be reasonable crea­tures? in our tender compassi­on to others, but like freeboo­ters Rifle and Rob them to in­rich [Page 57] our selves, when they should be objects of our pitty and releife; for there ought to be that harmony and con­cord amongst us, as we should endevour like one Instrument of many strings to tune all our faculties, and affections into a sweet agreement, that there might be no jarring amongst our selves, 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 feele the others motion, though most when like Instru­ments whose Pegs are wound up, their strings scrued to the height, by any outward vio­lence they make the shril­lest sounds, according to that of the Apostle,Heb. 13.3 Remember [Page 58] them in bonds, as bound, being our selves of the body; especi­ally when I am sure, that if a Toe (the meanest and remo­test member) be but trod upon, Christ our head feeles it.

Secondly, our charitie must be exercised in censuring o­thers Actions; for so love ho­peth all things, beleeveth all things, 1 Cor. 3. and ever takes them in the best sence, is never se­vere, nor positive in judging them by their outward condi­tion, in that the Corne is as much thrasht as the straw, the Gold as much tryed (though not wasted) in the fire as the Drosse. Nay many times much more; for there may be a Rich Dives, whose Cups over-flow with wine, when poore Lazarus is glad to refresh himselfe with the com­mon [Page 59] Element of water;Luke 16. a good tree may appeare wither­ed, blasted, and dying with the violence of outward stormes, or recoyling of the sap of Grace to the Root in some stronge temptation;Eccles. 9.1, 2. when the fruitlesse 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 mans spirituall condition by his temporall) in that all things sublunary come alike to all. For it is not Gods 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 sun-shine of Persecution; none but a David can then truly rejoyce in it, and there finde comfort, and refreshment.

[Page 60]Thirdly, our charities are exercised by Afflictions, when we teach as well by example as Precept, in our cheerefull, innocent, and charitable un­dergoing them. Thus Saint Paul propounds himselfe a pa­terne for us to transcribe,1 Cor. 4.6. that with those in the Revela­tions we might follow the Lambe wheresoever he goeth, though not in equall 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 patterne at least,Heb. 12.2. Jo. 14.6. if not commands; for Regis ad exemplum, the King is the great wheele in the State, that carries the inferiour ones with him; the examples of great men usually having a compulsary power in them, [Page 61] even from a principle in na­ture. Thus one Deere leads the whole heard, one bird the flock, oneGal. 2.14. Peter a congregati­on. And therefore we ought to carry the lanterne in the Poope, to let the light of our Actions still shew the way we steere in the greatest stormes 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 Martyres being the generative seed of the Church, Phoenix like one rising out of the urne, and ashes of the other, the effusion of one mans blood being as it were the transfusion of the same spirits into many, [Page 62] or with Pythagoras, one soule animating (in a succession) di­vers bodies, ever gathering strength under pressures, with the Camomile growing best when most trod on, and with the Palme most spreading when oppressed with any waight. Thus God defects, and anatomizes some, in them to read a Lecture to all: and so truly makes our Crosses be­come a Crowne of rejoycing 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 doe spring, and grow, till the hand of God doe pluck them to adorne his owne Garland with in heaven.

12 Fourtenthly, Gods hand upon us cals for ours upon our selves, humiliation as well as [Page 63] humility, and not with the worme turne againe upon him that treads upon us, but we must judge & afflict our selves, and be most forward in a holy revenge to crucifie those sins, that most crucifie our Saviour, and by their death to give life to the contrary vertues, by our outward comportment shewing our inward affections, and not onely beare when God layes it on, but take up the Crosse to Crosse our selves, when our sinnes, or Gods threatned judgements cals for it, not putting the evill day from us with joy and glad­nesse, eating of flesh, and drinking of wine, (which is to be possessed with a strange de­vill, if taken in excesse, some­ties casting us into the water, and sometimes into the fire) [Page 64] when God cals us to weeping and mourning,Js. 22.12.13. and baldnesse, the true Emblems of Repen­tance; not court our eyes with vaine objects, suffering them to be burning glasses of lust to inflame the heart, when they should be fountaines of teares to quench the inflamed wrath of God against us for our sins, not feast to nourish, when we should fast to mortifie sinne in us, not ravish our senses with harmonious Musick, when our sad consort should be made up of signes, and grones (the most melodious voyces for Gods quire, though harsh, and shrill in our eares) not gratifie our Palates by plundering all the Elements of their luxurious dainties, to furnish our Tables, (and with the ewe tree roote our selves in the graves, and [Page 65] ruines of others) when we should come neerest the invita­tion of Angels in their absti­nence, not rock our selves in­to a sleepe, and lethargy of sin in Beds of Ivery, but tame our rebell lusts by watching, and holy vigilancy.Amos. 6. Joel. 2. Jsa. 1: Jam. 4. 1 Cor: 11.32. For thus affli­cting our selves with rods, we shall avoyd 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 himselfe to the greatest depth of Ignominy, scorne, and selfe abasement, even all degrees of Punishment, Paine, 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 [Page 66] say,Eccl. 7. that the house of mourning is better then that of mirth; for by the sadnesse of the countenance the heart is made better, whereas unseasonable or immoderate pleasure like a surfet, is ever the mother of some disease, some grievous punishment. And if we once come not only to please but pride our selves in them (nay in our best graces; even the correcting our selves in those excesses) like a gan­greene in a joynt, it will cor­rupt the whole frame, and cannot but ruine us, that cast the Angels out of Paradise it selfe. But if we cast our selves downe before God, and like starres the higher they rise, still lessen in our owne eyes, he will raise us; for like the best mines, a Christian the deeper and lower he is in the [Page 67] earth, (in thoughts of morta­lity and mortification) the richer; it being the vallies, not shelving hils that drink in (and so become faire and fruitefull with) the blessing from above. Nay it is the bruised reed, and smoaking flax, that God stu­dies to preserveMat. 12.20., when with Hugo, Presumption robs us of our God, and his protecti­on, envy of our neighbours, and anger of our selves, un­lesse it be against our selves, for then onely it turnes into selfe love.

Lastly, and most properly 15 God sends afflictions for the trial of our patience, in that it never appeares but under pressures (though, if true, it is alwayes waiting upon God in habit and affections) and is the soules retiring roome in all [Page 68] distresses; a Mount Sion, which is not to be removed, Jsa. 26.20 21. Psa. 125. but standeth fast for ever (a). A peice of earth as the Spaniards say, however trod upon, and exposed to iniuries, that is the last thing that triumphs over its enemies: A grace that e­ver shewes best with the Di­amond, upon a darke foyle; a well drawne picture, whose ground-worke is ever laid in the saddest colours, and like the spangled canopy of heaven ever shines brightest when the curtaines are drawne, and the chamber hung with blacks in the most sad and darkest night of temptation. Thus this Grace did shine cleerest in the setting of the Sunne of Righte­ousnesse,Luk. 21.10. and his greatest e­clips upon the crosse, who did then possesse his soule in patience, [Page 69] (b) when torne 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 Royall 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 himselfe to be its hiding place, strength, sheild, and deliverer 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) teares, which are ever a rich granary to the godly, in that God will feed them with the bread of teares, and (though it [Page 70] be but a thinne and penitenti­all diet,) will make them as the staffe of food to nourish and support them, when all other refreshments failePs. 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 powerfull oratory in them, as God him­selfe cannot resist it, but pre­sently approaches like a man of warre, and brings releife to streightened and besieged pa­tience. And if the batteries of the enemy shall not onely have destroyed and demolished its towers, and turrets of orna­ment, but throwne downe all its upper roomes of state and conveniency; Patience can lodge more safely and as con­tentedly upon the lowest floore amongst the rubbish and [Page 71] ruines of a decaied greatnesse; knowing that he cannot want the conveniency of any place, that hath God with him that fils all places, but chiefely makes his servants Prison his Mantion to abide in with them (be it spoken in a pious sence) and needs no rich Tapestries for State, but humility; no perfumes, but Prayes; no Or­naments but the Graces, no Crown but the Crosse, though then he will turne our Crosses into Crownes, our pressures, into Praises, ravishing us with Anthems of delight, composed of sighes, and groanes.

From all which considerati­ons, if the feet of the Messen­gers of Peace are beautifull, what welcome entertainment ought we to give Afflictions, which are the Heralds of it, and [Page 72] are sent but to force us to a Parly and accommodation with our God, and by depres­sing, studdies our advancement.Luk 6 [...]3. Jam. 1. [...]. Nay let us be glad, and re­joyce in them, when they are upon us; for when oppressed with sinne, they are our Purge, Christs blood our Cordiall; and then though my Phisitian come with a bitter potion, with fire to burne, 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 weaknesse, which will sometimes say to us (perhaps as the Angell did to Ioseph) Arise, take up thy young, and ten­der babe, Mat. 2.13. (thy weak and new borne faith) and flye, we may seeke our own preservation; [Page 73] both pray, and indevour to a­voyd an approching persecu­tion, or triall; For better a holy flight, then 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, Leade us not into Temptation, but when they persecute you in one City, flie to a­nother; And did many times with draw himselfe in the like case from the malice of his E­nemies. For though we may not leape over the wall, or by any unjust meanes preserve our selves, we may goe out of Prison (from our troubles) when God open us a doore, and gives us an honest and faire opportunity, and not by a rash boldnesse provoke a dan­ger (against all circumcellious [Page 74] whatsoever) for so Christ walked no more openly, Joh. 11.54. but saught sanctuary, and safe quarter in the wildernesse, when he could not injoye it in the City, like a wise Pilot not splitting his vessell on a Rock, when he can with a faire winde put into a harbour; accounting it rather murther, then Mar­tyrdome to attempt a danger, where it may lawfully be a­voyded; which made the God of all power flye from weake man,1 Pet. 2.2. and Saint Paule escape without sinne,Act. 9.25. when Peter sinned by his too much confi­denceMat. 16.26. for God Almighty is so wise a Generall, as to keepe a reserve, and not hazard all up­on one battle, but made Zoar Lots retreat from Sodome, and his destroying Angell. So as we must not with the Dolphin [Page 75] hunt the storme, yet with a well poised zeale 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 profitRom. 8.29. Phil. 1.29. 1 Pet. 4.16. 1 Pet. 3.15; for the best things here are but a dimme vesper of a more glorious festivall, and the time of injoying them but a poore halfe Holiday to Eter­nity. And therefore let us, with the Apostles take joyful­ly the losse of all for God,Act. 4.41. who wil then strik a noon daies light into the saddest night-peece of Afflictions; turne our Gibbets, and places of executi­on into Triumphall Arches, and make us persecute our per­secutors more with our pati­ence, then they can us with their torments. But that man, that will be his owne God (de­livering [Page 76] himselfe by any un­lawfull meanes, or flye when Gods glory, or the Churches good commands his stay) is not as one saith, his owne man. Therefore lets us still enjoy our selves by patience,Psal. 37. our brethren by Charity, and our God by faith, making every submissive Act a Confessour (as the babes before they could speake,) and our selves in ha­bit, and resolution Martyrs, every light Affliction but like a rub to an overthrowne bowle, to helpe, not hinder us towards our marke: And then undergoing all for a good cause, it will save us, when we cannot save it (but must see the Arke taken by the Phi­listines, and the glory depart­ed from Israel)1 Sam. 3. if we suffer without murmuring, where [Page 77] we cannot act without sinning, and dye when we cannot doe against our owne conscience, or Gods commands; since God by it doth but take us into safe Garrison from a bloody fieldAct. 21.13.; yet his Grapes must be thus pressed before they yeeld the joy of gladnesse to us; nor then, if we beare it not with Innocence, meeknesse, and contentednesse For it is not the outward Act, but the in­ward Affections, and intenti­ons, that makes a good and a happy man, and turnes the stake into his Theater the one­ly place of his joy, and tri­umph.