That which others make easy by 1suffering, that a wise man maketh easy by thinking of beforehand. If we expect the worst: when it comes, it is no more than we thought of. If better befalls us, than it is the sweeter to us, the less we expected it. Our Saviour foretells the worst: In the world you shall have tribulation, therefore look for it, but then he will not leave us. 2Satan deludes with fair promises: but ⟨p. 120⟩when the contrary falls out, he leave his followers in their distresses. We desire peace and rest, but we seek i• not in its own place; there is a rest for Gods people, but that is not here, nor yet, 3but it remains for them; they rest fr• their labours, but that is after they are dead in the Lord. There is no sound rest till then. Yet this caution must be remembered, 4that we shape not in o• 5fancies such troubles as are never likely to fall out, It comes either from weakness or guiltiness, to fear shadows. We shall not need to make crosses, they will (as we say of foul weather) come before they be sent for. How many evils do people fear, from which they have no further hurt, then w• is bred only by their causeless fea•. Nor yet if they be probable, must we think of them so, as to be altogether so affected, as if undoubtedly they would come, for so we give certain strength to an uncertain cross, and usurp upon God, by anticipating th• which may never come to pass. It was rashness in David to say, I sh• ⟨p. 121⟩6one day perish by the hand of Saul.
That which others make easie by 1suffering, that a wise man maketh easie by thinking of beforehand. If we expect the worst: when it comes, it is no more than wee thought of. If better befals us, than it is the sweeter to us, the lesse wee expected it. Our Saviour foretels the worst: In the world you shall have tribulation, therefore looke for it, but then hee will not leave us. 2Satan deludes with faire promises: but ⟨p. 120⟩when the contrary falls out, hee leave his followers in their distresses. Wee desire peace and rest, but wee seeke i• not in its owne place; there is a rest for Gods people, but that is not here, nor yet, 3but it remaines for them; they rest fr• their labours, but that is after they are dead in the Lord. There is no sound rest till then. Yet this caution must be remembred, 4that wee shape not in o• 5fancies such troubles as are never likely to fall out, It comes either from weaknesse or guiltinesse, to feare shaddowes. We shall not need to make crosses, they will (as we say of foule weather) come before they be sent for. How many evills doe people feare, from which they have no further hurt, then w• is bred onely by their causelesse fea•. Nor yet if they be probable, must wee thinke of them so, as to be altogether so affected, as if undoubtedly they would come, for so wee give certaine strength to an uncertaine crosse, and usurpe upon God, by anticipating th• which may never come to passe. It was rashnesse in David to say, I sh• ⟨p. 121⟩6one day perish by the hand of Saul.
- 1Quae alii diu patiendo levia faciunt, sapiens levia facit diu cogitando.Quae alii diu patiendo levia faciūt, sapiens levia facit diu cogitando.
- 2Joh. 16. 33.Ioh. 16. 33.
- 3Heb. 4. 9.
- 4Rev. 14. 13.
- 5Caution.
- 61 Sam. 27. 1
