Use 2. Secondly, It is matter of comfort unto us, that since God always dwelleth with his heritage, he therefore sees all our sorrows and cares ; and because of this his abode, for this cause the church shall stand, because he loveth his dwelling-place ; yea, though all the power of hell should be turned loose, yet they shall not hurt the church of God ; yea, though their sin draw down judgments upon them, yet they shall not rest upon them for ever.
In the second place, we see the persons are described by calling them 'a remnant,' 'a little flock,' whence the point is,
Doct. 4. That the people of God he but a remnant in regard of the wicked, even like the gleanings of the corn, a sina.U company, which is a cause they are so despised of the world. Whereof the uses are,
Use 1. First, We must not be discouraged though we see few go with us in the way to heaven. Many are ready to object and cavil against such, but few are ready to profess and suffer with them ; yet, let all such who walk forward with the multitude, remember they are but a remnant which shall be saved.
Use 2. Secondly, Is it so, that this small remnant is so opposed and
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scoffed at? Why then, let us labour so much the more to love and make much one of another, and thus we shall be assured to do more good, than all the power of hell can procure hurt unto us. The devil he labours to sow sedition amongst us ; but by love we shall overcome all. The church hath ever received more hurt by discord, than by open enemies.
Having thus described the parties on whom these great mercies shall be bestowed, now he proceedeth to prevent* an objection of some troubled souls, which might arise from the former doctrine.
Obj. You say that God is thus, and thus, and thus merciful, yet I feel him scourge me often and long together for my sins ; I am sure he seems to be angry for the time.
Ans. To this he answereth, 'He retaineth not his anger for ever.' Whence the doctrine ariseth,
Doct. 5. That the afflictions of God's children shall have a seasonable and a speedy end. The Lord he knoweth best when it is good to begin, and when to make an end ; so the Lord speaketh, Isa. liv. 7, 'For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee ; in a little wrath I hide my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kind- ness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer.' So saith the psalmist, 'Heaviness may come in the morning, but joy cometh in the evening,' Ps. xxx. 5. The reasons whereof be divers.
Reason 1. The fu'st is taken out of Lam. iii. 33, 'Because the Lord doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.' He doth it not to hurt us, but to mend us and make us come unto him, otherwise we would not come.
;: Beason 2. Secondly, Because we, having such a sure friend in the court of heaven, even Christ Jesus, to make intercession for us at the right hand of the Father, it is not possible but our afflictions should have a seasonable end ; for if the church, having Esther, so sure a friend in the court of Ahasuerus, found by her so speedy and true deliverance, much more shall the church now, by the intercession of Christ, obtain deliverance from the court of heaven.
Reason 3. Thirdly, We shall have speedy and seasonable deliverance from afflictions, because by afflictions we gain instruction. This leadeth us to humiliation and confession of sins, and then the Lord having bound himself by promise and oath, it is not possible but we must have deliver- ance. He cannot choose but be merciful. Whereof the ground is, that, look how soon God hath his end, which is our unfeigned humiliation, con- fession, and amendment of life, instantly we have also our end, which is deliverance.
Reason 4. Fourthl}^ They shall have speedy and seasonable deliverance, because he correcteth them only for their profit; lest, therefore, they should faint and mourn under the burden, he will and hath promised to hasten help, as the psalmist speaketh : ' The rod of the wicked shall not always rest upon the just, lest the wicked oppress and triumph over him.' Ex- cellently also to this purpose doth the Lord speak, Isa. Ivii, IG, 'I will not contend for ever, neither will I always be wroth : for the spirit shall fail before me, and the souls which I have made.' So, certain it is, God will not beat his children unto death ; he beateth not in revenge, but to bring home and amend us. The uses are.
Use 1. Fieproof to God's oxen clear servants, who, in a sharp and quick cross, where they see no issue, they begin to murmur and repine, saying, * That is, ' anticipate.' — G,
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Oh ! I shall never get out of this cross. But what, tell me, wouldst thou think of thy child, that, when thou art a- chastising him for some fault, would have such a conceit of thee, that thou wouldst beat him to death? Mightest not thou think him an unnatural child? Yet much more un- natural are we unto God, who is a great deal more loving ; for if he once begin, we straight imagine that he will never make an end. But we ought not thus to repine, but rather quench his anger with repentant tears, and take awaj' the fuel of sin which kindleth the sense of this wrath, and then the fire will cease. So let us take away the proud and dead flesh, and the plaster will quickly fall away.