Use. Therefore learn a blessed skill from hence. When there is objected anything by Satan to disgrace the gospel or discourage it, reject* the objections of Satan with better. It is so, I confess ; but [while] God seemeth to be displeased, and I am afflicted, God is yet a gracious God, hath left many comforts, his word, and promises, and therein I will trust: he hath given me his Spirit to support me. Thus return all the temptations of Satan, learn to be as witty f and ingenious to argue that, for the strengthening of our faith, which may drive us to the acknowledgment of God's goodness and mercy, as Satan is to do the contrary : Judges vi. 13, ' God be with thee, thou valiant man;' but if God be with us, ' why is it thus with us ?' And 60 God's people look all to the grievance ; why are we persecuted, and in distress, and want, and at our wits' end ? Now, but consider the comfort as well as the discomfort ; learn that heavenly wisdom from St Paul.
Let no man be discourai/ed, if he fuuleth himself sensible of the grief he lieth under. We be flesh, not spirit. God knoweth whereof we are made ; and therefore he layeth not whole loads upon us, but in auger he remembers mercy. You see how he deals with the apostle Paul, and others in his case. Therefore, if we be sensible of trouble, God can help. No man more sensible of grief than Christ, Christi dolor, dolor iiiaximiis. For he had perfect wisdom to apprehend, and a sound body (c). St Paul speaks of these things as wonderfully sensible, but here is true patience, when we be sensible to the uttermost of the grievance, and yet withal are but sensible * That is, ' cast back, retort.' — G. t That is 'wise.' — G.
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of tho grievance. ' Why should I emito them any more ?' Isa. i. 5, saith God to tho prophet. It is not only sin, but judgment, to be given up to hard hearts, not to feel tho condition. Well, St Paul was sensible of his condition.
Obj. Thou wilt object, What is tliis to us ? We live in calm times, and enjoy health and prosperity, and know not what these things mean that Paul speaks of.
Ans. Beloved, the more wo be beholding to God. But do we know to what times tho Lord may call tho best of us all ? Therefore we must be prepared before hand. Comforts are not found in adversity that were not sought for in prosperity, as Austin saith ((c). In times of peace, people should provide for war and defence ; and so in times of peace let us think of these things. Our conditions may alter. Howsoever tho state may continue, yet we that live under our vines and fig-trees, do we know how the Lord may exercise us ? May not he exercise us with afilictions of mind and persecutions of body ? May not ho exercise us with trouble of conscience, and bring us into straits, which is a spiritual martyrdom too ? In times of prosperity, God's children know better what to do and whom to depend on, because then he keeps them off from inward troubles. And therefore, seeing we know not how long in our personal condition we may be as we are, it is not amiss to think on these things.
And to direct us a little what to do now in times of peace and quietness.
(1.) Labour to jjreserve ovr jwace icith God by all means, that when changes come, as changes may come, and will come one way or other, we may say with the apostle, ' I am afilicted, but not forsaken.' If we make not God now our friend ; if we shall now multiply sin and guilt, and run into God's books more and more, it will be a hell when trouble, and sickness, and persecution come. And therefore as we will have God our friend when we stand most in need of him, so let us labour to keep God our friend now at this time. The desperate course that many loose persons take : they run into an old course, they let the reins loose to licentiousness, let their tongue he and swear, and deny nothing that they afiect. ' Is there not times and months for these wild asses to be taken in ? In their months you may take them.' There be months of trouble and months of sickness; and when their former courses have been nothing but a perpetual provoking of God, what comfort can these persons have ? And therefore, as we desire to have God stand by us and help at every pinch, labour for peace with him now in time of prosperity.
(2.) Let lis be constant in his cause, in his reliyion, that is so constant to us. And this constancy of the Spirit and the best things will be an evi- dence to us that we have found him constant in his love to us.
(3.) And that we may quiet ourselves the better, if such times come, he careful, and treasure up 2)^'oinises for the time to come, that we may allege them to God. Get good liquor into our hearts, that when times of pressing come, there may be good wine. If good knowledge be not gotten before- hand, what will afflictions press out but murmurings and despair, and something that was there before. Therefore treasure up now all we can ; there is a spending time will come. Joseph's hard years may overtake us ; we know not into what distress we may be brought. And because God is the best friend in extremity, be sure we offend not him for any creature, because let the creature do his worst, yet God will always be sure to be our friend. And if God be our friend, it matters not who is our enemy. I cannot press all that may be pressed out of this point.