[±] God doth it too with great faithfulness ; they look on all afflic- tions as federal dispensations, as appendages of the covenant of grace : Ps. cxix. 75, ' In very faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.' Mark, he doth not say, nohcithstanding thy faithfulness, but in faithfulness he performs his covenant. When he thresheth us, it is to make our husks fly off, that he may quicken us to a serious remembrance of himself, and of the duties w^e owe to him.
[3.] It is ordered with great wisdom : ' For God is a God of judg- ment,' Isa. XXX. 18. He knows what is best for his people. We think this and that best, but God is wiser than we. When many providences fall out, we think it would be better for the church if it were otherwise. But this is to tax God's wisdom, and charge him •with want of love and tenderness towards his people ; they are dearer to him than they are to you. Chrysostom shows how we take upon us to order affairs. He brings in an instance of a man that is very kind to the poor ; if he dies they are undone : have you more care of them than God their maker ? Job did not eat his morsels alone, but the poor did eat his bread, and were clothed with his fleece, therefore the sides of the poor are said to bless him. Cannot God provide for the poor without Job ? So in like cases for the church's sake. This providence seems to tend altogether to evince ; but God knows how by these and these means to provide for his people; and you must not prescribe to him. It was blasphemy in Alphonsus to say, Si Deo a consiliis ad/uissct, se consultius multa ordinalunmi — ' That if he had been by when God made the world, he would have ordered some things with greater advice and better care. He w'ould not have jjlaced the horns of the beasts above their eyes, but under their eyes.' Such blasphemy do we secretly lisp out in our murmurings and discourses about providence, when we are questioning how this, that, and the other thing can be for his glory. The Lord knows how to guide all things to liis glory, and we must absolutely yield to it.
[4.] With much love ; for he that hath the wisdom of a father hath also the bowels of a mother. A mother may sooner forget a poor shiftless child than God will forget his people, Isa. xlix. 15, &c. There is a great deal of love showed in our afflictions. Sometimes in mitigating them: 1 Cor. x. 13, 'God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tem])ted above what you are able to bear.' And as Jacob drove on as the little ones were able to bear, so the Lord suits his conduct and lays on the affliction as liis })eople are able to bear. Castles are victualled before they are besieged. After great comforts then comes affliction : Heb. x. 32, ' After you were enlightened ye endured a great fight of affliction.' Then again, in refreshing their troubles with many gracious experiences. The Lord doth things wliich seem very bitter to the carnal sense and gust, but when he hath defecated and refined our taste, then he sheds abroad his love into our
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hearts bj^ the Holy Ghost, Rom. v. 3, 5. Their adoption is cleared up, and the loss of outwai-d comfort is accompanied with a greater increase of spiritual comfort. A.ii^ain, he shows his love in ordering all things for their good, Rom. viii. 28. Out of what corner soever the wind blows, it blows good to the saints. ' Arise, 0 north wind, and blow thou south,' &c. North and south, contrary points ; Cant. iv. IG, yet 'the spices of his garden flow out ;' that which is against our will is not against our profit ; God is still pursuing what is for his own glory and good of the elect. So all that falleth out is either good or will tend to good.
Use. This teacheth us upon what grounds there should be such a submission to all personal and domestical calamities which may befall any of us, and to all that befall the church. It is the will of God ; and that is the great ground of composing the heart whatever falleth out. Whenever you hear of the increase of violence, or any resolution against the people of God, this should calm us, ' The will of the Lord be done;' God knows what is best for his people. This is an ever- lasting ground of comfort, that we are still in God's hands, and what- ever befalls us, it comes by his special providence, even by his that numbers the hairs of our heads, and who carves out every condition to us : Dent, xxxiii. 3, ' Surely he loved his people ; all the saints are in his hands.' When the disciples were sore troubled and affrighted, John vi. 20, * Jesns comes to them and said. Be not afraid, it is I ' that order this. There are many remarkable passages in that story. The disciples were, in the dark of the night, overtaken with a mighty storm, and for a long time did not know what would become of them. The text saith they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty furlongs be- fore Christ appears. Christ seeth it not fit to appear at first, but lets the trial go on until it be a trial indeed. Now about the fourth watch of the night, Jesus passed by, Mark vi. 48 ; that is the morning watch, and then Jesus appears to them. We are very tender of our- selves, and soon think we are low and tried enough, therefore would fain be delivered ; but our wise Lord seeth we need more. When Christ came, then their fears are increased. Christ came walking upon the water, and they thought it w^as a spectre. Spirits broken with troubles are very apt to take in afHicting impressions from everything they see and hear. The very way of our mercies may be matter of terror to us. At length he discovereth himself: ' It is I, be not afraid.' I walk upon that water which seems to be ready to swallow you up. I, that raised the waves, know how to still them. Here is that which may allay all our disquiets and fears. Remember, it is not the instrument but Christ and God must be eyed, and the will of the Lord be done.