11. Take evidence hereby of the true estate of Saints: and be instructed in the manner of Gods dealing with them. True it is that he putteth them to many trials: hThe Lord scourgeth every son that he receiveth. All are partakers of chastisement. iAll that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Yet as true it is, that the Lord affordeth 4sufficient supportance, yea, and comfort also in all their troubles, that we may learn that Gods captived servants are not forsaken of him. kGod is faithful who will not suffer his to be tempted above that they are able to hear. As lChrist said of the Sabbath, I may say of the afflictions of Saints. Afflictions are for the Saints, and not the Saints for afflictions. Therefore God correcteth us mfor our profit: and from thence issueth nthe peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them ⟨p. 91⟩that are exercised thereby. The assistance, comfort, peace, and joy which God giveth even in troubles and afflictions, ministereth just cause for us all to say, oWe are troubled on every side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair: persecuted, but not forsaken: cast down, but not destroyed. This is the benefit of spiritual rest, that temporal troubles do not disturb the same. If any be disquieted, and unsettled (as we heard before some might be) it is their own weakness. They have a rest to return unto ordained, revealed by God: whereunto when they recall their spirit, they will return as here the Prophet doth. If thus there be peace and rest to Saints in times of trials and troubles, inward peace, spiritual rest in outward trials, and temporal troubles, who can doubt of their rest in halcyon, in quiet and peaceable times, when there is nothing to disturb the same. The world is altogether ignorant of this peace. If they had a true and due understanding thereof, their mouths would not be so opened as they are against Saints by reason of their troubles.
11. Take evidence hereby of the true estate of Saints: and be instructed in the manner of Gods dealing with them. True it is that he putteth them to many trialls: hThe Lord scourgeth every sonne that he receiveth. All are partakers of chastisement. iAll that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution. Yet as true it is, that the Lord affordeth 4sufficient supportance, yea, and comfort also in all their troubles, that we may learne that Gods captived servants are not forsaken of him. kGod is faithfull who will not suffer his to be tempted above that they are able to heare. As lChrist said of the Sabbath, I may say of the afflictions of Saints. Afflictions are for the Saints, and not the Saints for afflictions. Therefore God correcteth us mfor our profit: and from thence issueth nthe peaceable fruit of righteousnesse unto them ⟨p. 91⟩that are exercised thereby. The assistance, comfort, peace, and joy which God giveth even in troubles and afflictions, ministreth just cause for us all to say, oWe are troubled on every side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despaire: persecuted, but not forsaken: cast downe, but not destroyed. This is the benefit of spirituall rest, that temporall troubles do not disturbe the same. If any be disquieted, and unsetled (as we heard before some might be) it is their owne weakenesse. They have a rest to returne unto ordained, revealed by God: whereunto when they recall their spirit, they will returne as here the Prophet doth. If thus there be peace and rest to Saints in times of trialls and troubles, inward peace, spirituall rest in outward trialls, and temporall troubles, who can doubt of their rest in halcyon, in quiet and peaceable times, when there is nothing to disturbe the same. The world is altogether ignorant of this peace. If they had a true and due understanding thereof, their mouthes would not be so opened as they are against Saints by reason of their troubles.
- 1Instruction in the true estate of Saints.
- hHeb. 12. 6, 8.
- i2 Tim. 3. 12.
- 4Discamus captivos Dei serves non deseri a Domino sao. Aug. Epist 122 ad Victorian.
- k1 Cor. 10. 13.
- lMar 2. 27.
- mHeb 12. 10.
- n—11.
- o2 Cor. 4. 8, 9.
