This is the anchor of the righteous. As he looks upon his troubles, the promise cometh in like a messenger from Christ, while he is praying, and weeping, and saith, The Lord will deliver thee out of all. Then he resolveth like Nehemiah,1 and saith, Shall such a ⟨p. 503⟩man as I fly? Shall such a man as I recant? If I be faint in the day of adversity,2 Solomon saith, my strength is small: as if he should say, I was never strong, but did counterfeit like Demas: if I want comfort in trouble, Solomon saith,3 A good conscience is a continual feast. As if he should say, that I have not a good conscience, if I have not comfort in the Cross. Therefore I will wait the Lords leisure,4 because Isaiah saith, Faith maketh no hast. I will not break his bands, because then I am like the Heathen. I will not flatter the Judge,5 because Solomon saith it is vain. I will not betray the cause, because GOD hath appointed it to try me.6 I will not offend my brethren,7 because Paul had rather dye than do so. I will not charge my conscience, because it can vex me more than their bands. I will not turn from my profession, because I learned it of GOD, and vowed to leave all for it, in the day that I was baptized a Christian. Though my friends tempt me, like Jobs wife: though my flesh flatter me, like Eve: though my persecutors would bribe me, like Balaac: though they which suffer with me, should revolt for fear:8 yet I will be as Joshua which stood alone:9 and as Elkanah was in stead of children to Annah, so Christ shall be in stead of comfort, in stead of wealth, and health, and liberty to me. For many were ⟨p. 504⟩the troubles of Joseph, and the Lord delivered him out of all: many were the troubles of Abraham, and the Lord delivered him out of all: many were the troubles of David, and the Lord delivered him out of all: many were the troubles of Job, and the Lord delivered him out of all: therefore he can deliver me out of all. But if he do not (say Sidrach, Misaac, and Abednego) yet we will not do evil to escape danger, because Christ hath suffered more for us.10 Therefore, if I perish, I perish, saith Esther. She was content that her life should perish: but if my purse suffer, my money doth but perish: if my body be imprisoned, my pleasures do but perish: and who can tell when he hath suffered that which is appointed?11
This is the anchor of the righteous. As he lookes vpon his troubles, the promise commeth in like a messenger from Christ, while he is praying, and weeping, and sayth, The Lord will deliuer thee out of all. Then hee resolueth like Nehemiah,1 and saith, Shall such a ⟨p. 503⟩man as I flye? Shall such a man as I recant? If I be faint in the day of aduersitie,2 Salomon saith, my strength is small: as if hee shoulde say, I was neuer strong, but did counterfeite like Demas: if I want comfort in trouble, Salomon sayth,3 A good conscience is a continuall feast. As if he should say, that I haue not a good conscience, if I haue not comfort in the Crosse. Therefore I will wayte the Lords leisure,4 because Esay sayth, Faith maketh no hast. I will not breake his bands, because then I am like the Heathen. I will not flatter the Iudge,5 because Salomon saith it is vaine. I will not betray the cause, because GOD hath appoynted it to trye mee.6 I will not offend my brethren,7 because Paul had rather dye than doe so. I will not charge my conscience, because it can vexe mee more than their bands. I will not turne from my profession, because I learned it of GOD, and vowed to leaue all for it, in the daye that I was baptized a Christian. Though my friends tempt me, like Iobs wife: though my flesh flatter mee, like Eue: though my persecutors would bribe me, like Balaac: though they which suffer with me, should reuolt for feare:8 yet I will be as Ioshua which stoode alone:9 and as Elkanah was in stead of children to Annah, so Christ shall be in stead of comfort, in stead of wealth, and health, and libertie to mee. For manie were ⟨p. 504⟩the troubles of Ioseph, and the Lord deliuered him out of all: many were the troubles of Abraham, and the Lord deliuered him out of all: many were the troubles of Dauid, and the Lorde deliuered him out of all: manie were the troubles of Iob, and the Lorde deliuered him out of all: therefore he can deliuer me out of all. But if he doe not (say Sidrach, Misaac, and Abednego) yet wee will not doe euill to escape daunger, because Christ hath suffered more for vs.
- 1Nehe. 6. 11.
- 2Pro. 24. 10.
- 3Pro. 15. 15.
- 4Psalm. 2.
- 5Pro. 29. 26.
- 6Rom. 14.
- 71. Cor. 8. 10.
- 8Josh. 24. 15.Iosh. 24. 15.
- 91 Sam. 1.
- 10Hest. 4. 16.
- 11Psal. 75.
