A Golden Chain

Secondly all that profess the Gospel of Christ, may hence learn to bear the crosses and afflictions which God shall lay on them in this world. It is Gods usual manne• to begin corrections in his own family upon his own children; and as P•ter saith, Judgement beginneth at Gods house. Look at a mother that weans her child, layeth wormwood or some other bitter thing upon her breast, to make the child loath the milk: so likewise God makes us often feel the miseries and crosses of this life, that our love and liking might be turned from this world and fixed in heaven. As raw flesh is loathsome to the stomach; so is every sinner and unmortified man loathsome unto God: till the Lord by afflictions mortify in him the corruptions of his nature, and specially the love of this world. But when a man is afflicted, how shall he be able to endure the cross? Surely by resolving himself that the Lord hath prepared life everlasting for him.¹ Thus we read that Moses by faith when he was come to age, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter, and chose rather to suffer adversity with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt. But I pray you: what moved Moses to be of this mind? The reason is added: Because he had respect to the recompense of reward, that is, he had always a special regard to life everlasting, and that was it that made him content and willing to suffer affliction with the people of god. Here then behold a notable president for us to follow. In which we are taught that the best way to endure afflictions with patience, is to have an eye to the recompense of reward: this is it that makes the yoke of Christ easy and lightsome. When it shall please God to bring unto us a cup of afflictions and bid us drink a draught thereof to the very bottom, the meditation of life eternal must be as sugar in our pockets to sweeten the cup withal.

Secondly all that •rofesse the Gospel of Christ, may hence learne to beare the crosses and afflic•ions which God shall lay on them in this world. It is Gods vsuall manne• to begin corrections in his owne familie vpon his owne children; and as Pter saith, Iudgement beginneth at Gods house. Looke at a mother that weanes her child, laieth wormewood or some other bitter thing vpon her breast, to make the child loath the milke: so likewise God makes vs often feele the misries and crosses of this life, that our loue and liking might be turned from this world and fixed in heauen. As rawe flesh is loathsome to the stomacke; so is euery sinner and vnmortified man loathsome vnto God: till the Lord by afflictions mortifie in him the corruptions of his nature, and specially the loue of this world. But when a man is afflicted, how shall he be able to endure the crosse? Surely by resoluing himselfe that the Lord hath prepared life euerlasting for him.