Yet are not outward temporal judgements,1 whether public or private, always to be simply accounted evils, but many times to be reckoned and accounted in the number of Gods blessings. Fora God oft inflicteth them on his children, and that in love, for their good. They are indeed grievous, and irksome to the flesh, but many times profitable to the soul: an heavy burden they are, but they bring forth a good & precious fruit: wherefore in regard of them, we must wholly refer our selves to Gods will, asb Christ did in his bitter agony. If God be pleased to preserve us from them, or being fallen upon us, to remove them, we are to account this preservation and deliverance,4 a blessing and favour of the Lord, and to be thankful unto God for it. But otherwise if it please the Lord to lay any cross upon us, or when it lieth on us, still to continue it, we are also to take this as a token of love, and to be thankful. The reason is evident. For God being very wise, & knowing what is best for us (even much⟨p. 407⟩ better then we our selves) & withal being a loving & tender father,5 exceeding careful of our good, he doth so dispose our estate, as may most make to our good. When he seeth it to be needful, he layeth affliction upon us: when it hath lien long enough upon us, then he removeth it. In this kind he dealeth with his children, as skilful and tender Physicians or Chirurgeons do with their patients, whose cure they seek. Now therefore upon this ground, we are to think every estate whereunto the Lord bringeth us to be the best for us: health to be the best when we are in health, and sickness to be best, when we are sick: abundance to be best while we have it, and want to be best when we are in want, and so of other estates. Therefore when the Lord doth lay upon us any outward afflictions, we must put them on the score of Gods favours: especially the good fruits of afflictions, as true humiliation, sound repentance, christian watchfulness, righteousness, &c. Now then to conclude this point, afflictions being tokens of Gods love, tending to the good of the Saints, they are comprised under this general clause ALL THINGS, and are matter of thanksgiving.
YEt are not outward temporall iudgements,1 whether publike or priuate, alwaies to be simply accounted euils, but many times to bee reckoned and accounted in the number of Gods blessings. Fora God oft inflicteth them on his children, and that in loue, for their good. They are indeede grieuous, and irksome to the flesh, but many times profitable to the soule: an heauie burthen they are, but they bring forth a good & precious fruit: wherefore in regard of them, we must wholy refer our selues to Gods will, asb Christ did in his bitter agonie. If God bee pleased to preserue vs from them, or being fallen vpon vs, to remoue them, we are to account this preseruation and deliuerance,4 a blessing and fauor of the Lord, and to be thankfull vnto God for it. But otherwise if it please the Lord to lay any crosse vpon vs, or when it lieth on vs, stil to cōtinue it, we are also to take this as a token of loue, and to be thankfull. The reason is euident. For God being very wise, & knowing what is best for vs (euen much⟨p. 407⟩ better then we our selues) & withall being a louing & tender father,5 exceeding carefull of our good, he doth so dispose our estate, as may most make to our good. When he seeth it to be needefull, he laieth affliction vpon vs: when it hath lien long enough vpon vs, then he rem oueth it. In this kinde he dealeth with his children, as skilfull and tender Physitians or Chirurgians doe with their patients, whose cure they seeke. Now therefore vpon this ground, we are to thinke euery estate whereunto the Lord bringeth vs to be the best for vs: health to be the best when wee are in health, and sicknesse to be best, when we are sicke: aboundance to be best while we haue it, and want to bee best when we are in want, and so of other estates. Therefore when the Lord doth lay vpon vs any outward afflictions, wee must put them on the score of Gods fauours: especially the good fruites of afflictions, as true humiliation, sound repentance, christian watchfulnesse, righteousnesse, &c. Now then to conclude this point, afflictions being tokens of Gods loue, tending to the good of the Saints, they are comprised vnder this general clause ALL THINGS, and are matter of thanksgiuing.
- 1Temporal judgements not always to be accounted evils.Temporall iudgements not alwaies to be accounted euils.
- aHeb. 12. 5, 6, 7, &c.
- bMat. 26. 39.
- 4Outward crosses are matter of thanksgiving.Outward crosses are matter of thanksgiuing.
- 5Non tantum pro his quae bona putamus, sed etiam quae nos coartant in Dei praeconium mens laeta prorumpat. Hieron. in Eph. 5.
