eCount it matter of much joy, my brethren, saith James, when you fall into many trials, or troubles. Since you know that the trial of your faith bringeth forth patience: And let patience have her perfect work, that you may be sound and entire. And ffor the furthering and consummating of this work, doth God oftentimes thus withdraw himself, as it were, out of the way, and seemeth to keep aloof off, when he is yet near at hand with us. He doth as the Physician or Surgeon ⟨p. 25⟩doth with his Patient, when he meeteth with a sore festered or full of dead flesh: He applieth some sharp corrosive to purge the wound, and to eat out the dead flesh, that would else hinder the cure. gWhich being done, the Patient, it may be, impatient of pain, as soon as he feeleth the smart of it, crieth to have it removed. But he telleth him, No, it must stay there till it have eaten to the quick, and effected that throughly for which it is applied. And to this purpose having given charge to them that be about him, to see that nothing be stirred till he come again to him, withdraweth and retireth himself till it be full time to take it off again. Mean while the Patient lying in pain, counteth every minute an hour till the Surgeon come back again, and if he stay long, thinketh that sure he hath forgotten him, while he is taken up with other Patients, or is otherwise employed, and will never in any time return again to him: when as the Surgeon, it may be, is all this while but in the very next room to him, there by the hour-glass, to that purpose set up, attending but the time, till the plaster have wrought that that it is to effect. And in the very self-same manner doth God deal oft with his dearest ones. Thus hPaul buffeted by Satan, (it was no small corrosive and heart-sore, you may be well assured, that troubled so much so magnanimous a spirit as his was) was instant with God more than once or twice to be rid of that evil. But ithe answer he had from God was, that he must patiently abide it: he should ⟨p. 26⟩not want his grace that should enable him to undergo it. But it would be worse with him, if it were otherwise; he would be in much peril of being puffed up with pride, if he were wholly freed from it. Yea thus DAVID, when Gods hand was sometime upon him, and he felt it harsh and heavy, he crieth earnestly unto God, to have it removed from him:
eCount it matter of much ioy, my brethren, saith Iames, when you fall into many trials, or troubles. Since you know that the triall of your faith bringeth forth patience: And let patience haue her perfect worke, that you may be sound and entire. And ffor the furthering and consummating of this worke, doth God oftentimes thus withdraw himselfe, as it were, out of the way, and seemeth to keepe aloofe off, when he is yet neere at hand with vs. He doth as the Physitian or Surgeon ⟨p. 25⟩doth with his Patient, when he meeteth with a sore festred or full of dead flesh: Hee applieth some sharpe corrasiue to purge the wound, and to eat out the dead flesh, that would else hinder the cure. gWhich being done, the Patient, it may be, impatient of paine, as soone as he feeleth the smart of it, crieth to haue it remoued. But he telleth him, No, it must stay there till it haue eaten to the quicke, and effected that throughly for which it is applied. And to this purpose hauing giuen charge to them that be about him, to see that nothing be stirred till hee come againe to him, withdraweth and retireth himselfe till it be full time to take it off againe. Meane while the Patient lying in paine, counteth euery minute an houre till the Surgion come backe againe, and if he stay long, thinketh that sure he hath forgotten him, while he is taken vp with other Patients, or is otherwise imployed, and wil neuer in any time returne again to him: when as the Surgion, it may be, is all this while but in the very next roome to him, there by the houre-glasse, to that purpose set vp, attending but the time, till the plaister haue wrought that that it is to effect. And in the very selfe-same manner doth God deale oft with his dearest ones. Thus hPaul buffeted by Satan, (it was no small corrasiue and heart-sore, you may be well assured, that troubled so much so magnanimous a spirit as his was) was instant with God more than once or twice to be rid of that euill. But ithe answer he had from God was, that he must patiently abide it: hee should ⟨p. 26⟩not want his grace that should enable him to vndergoe it. But it would be worse with him, if it were otherwise; he would be in much perill of being puffed vp with pride, if he were wholly freed from it. Yea thus DAVID, when Gods hand was somtime vpon him, and he felt it harsh and heauy, he crieth earnestly vnto God, to haue it remoued from him:
- eJam. 1. 2, 3, 4.Iam. 1. 2, 3, 4.
- fOmnipotens Deus quid nobis profuturum sit sciens, dolentium exaudire vocem saepe dissimulat, ut utilitatē augeat, dumb per poenā vita penitius purgatur. Greg. mor. l. 14. c. 18. Vota differens cruciat, crucians purgat, ut ad percipiendum quod desiderant, ex dilatione melius convalescant. Idem ibid. l. 8. c. 17.Omnipotens Deus quid nobis profuturum sit sciens, dolentium exaudire vocem saepe dissimulat, ut utilitatē augeat, dum per poenā vita penitius purgatur. Greg. mor. l. 14. c. 18. Vota differens cruciat, crucians purgat, ut ad percipiendum quod desiderant, ex dilatione melius convalescant. Idem ibid. l. 8. c. 17.
- gQuomodo cùm medicus epithema molestum & ardens imposuit, aeger ubi medicamento cruciari ceperit, rogat medicum ut tollat emplastrum: Molestum est, inquit, mihi istud emplastrum; tollas, quaeso. Rogat ut tollat, & non tollit. Eg•, inquit, novi quem curo. Non mihi det qui aegrotat consilium. Opus est diu ibi sit, aliter enim nil proficiet. Aug. in Psal. 90. & in Psal. 98. & in Psal. 130. & in 1 Joan. 6.Quomodo cùm medicus epithema molestum & ardens imposuit, aeger ubi medicamento cruciari ceperit, rogat medicum ut tollat emplastrum: Molestum est, inquit, mihi istud emplastrum; tollas, quaeso. Rogat ut tollat, & non tollit. Eg•, inquit, novi quem curo. Non mihi det qui aegrotat consilium. Opus est diu ibi sit, aliter enim nil proficiet. Aug. in Psal. 90. & in Psal. 98. & in Psal. 130. & in 1 Ioan. 6.
- h2 Cor. 12. 7, 8, 9.
- iNon est ablatum, quod volebat auferri, ut infirmitas illa sanaretur. Aug. in Joan. 7. Ita Deus & denegans exaudit, & exaudiens denegat; tribuens aufert, non tribuens donat. Simon Casein Evang. l. 5. c. 24.
