A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

Though now for a season you are in heaviness.

Though now for a season you are in heavinesse.

¹There are divers sorts of heaviness. 1. There is the heaviness of the desperate, such was that in Cain and Judas. 2. and the heaviness of the disappointed, such was the heaviness of Haman, Ahab, and Ammon, when they could not compass their ambitious, covetous, and voluptuous ends. 3. And there is the heaviness of the melancholy^f, and of the scandalized. 4. There is the heaviness of the penitent for sins. 5. and of the afflicted for crosses. 6. There is a heaviness in Gods children after calling for spiritual respects, as for corruption ^gof nature, for ^habsence of Christ, for ⁱwant of the means, for the ^kdishonour of God in public abominations, for the ^lmiseries of the Church, for Gods ^mthreatenings and anger, for the ⁿdesire of death, for ^ohardness of heart, and for special sins after calling.

¹There are divers sorts of heavinesse. 1. There is the heavinesse of the desperate, such was that in Cain and Iudas. 2. and the heavinesse of the disappointed, such was the heavinesse of Haman, Ahab, and Ammon, when they could not compasse their ambitious, covetous, and voluptuous ends. 3. And there is the heavinesse of the melancholy^f, and of the scandalized. 4. There is the heavinesse of the penitent for sinnes. 5. and of the afflicted for crosses. 6. There is a heavinesse in Gods children after calling for spirituall respects, as for corruption ^gof nature, for ^habsence of Christ, for ⁱwant of the meanes, for the ^kdishonour of God in publike abominations, for the ^lmiseries of the Church, for Gods ^mthreatnings and anger, for the ⁿdesire of death, for ^ohardnesse of heart, and for speciall sins after calling.

1. 1Sorts of heaviness.Sorts of heavinesse.
2. fRom 14.15.
3. gRom. 7.
4. hC•nt. 3.
5. iP•al. 42.
6. kEzek. 9.
7. lLament.
8. mIsaiah 66.2.Esay 66.2.
9. n2 Cor. 5.
10. oIsaiah 6.3, 17.Esay 6.3, 17.

Quest. But may not Gods children be heavy for crosses?

1. 1Rules for heaviness for cro••es.Rules for heav•nesse for cro••es.

Quest. But when is sorrow for afflictions moderate?

Answ. First, when it exceeds not the measure of sorrow for sin. 2. Secondly, when it withdraws not the heart from God and holy duties through passionate and incredulous perturbations:¹ but it is to be noted in the general, that the Apostle is very loth to grant them liberty for heaviness, but it is with many limitations: as 1. it must be but a little season: 2. they must be sure need doth require it: 3. it may not be allowed for many crosses that will not be allowed for lesser, or fewer tentations.

Answ. First, when it exceeds not the measure of sorrow for sin. 2. Secondly, when it withdrawes not the heart from God and holy duties through passionate and incredulous perturbations:¹ but it is to be noted in the generall, that the Apostle is very loth to grant them liberty for heavinesse, but it is with many limitations: as 1. it must be but a little season: 2. they must be sure need doth require it: 3. it may not be allowed for many crosses that will not be allowed for lesser, or fewer tentations.

1. 1When sorrow in affliction is moderate.

For a season.]

¹The troubles and griefs of Gods children are but for a season, for a moment: God hides his face ^pbut a little while; and the reason is, because afflictions are used of God, but as plasters, or medicines, or as a furnace. Now in as much as the godly will quickly judge themselves, and make their peace, therefore the Lord will soon ^qdraw off the cross, the plaster shall lie no longer than till the sore be whole; and the goldsmith will let his metal lye in the fire no longer than till the dross be• melted off, or it be fit to be wrought upon.

¹The troubles and griefs of Gods children are but for a season, for a moment: God hides his face ^pbut a little while; and the reason is, because afflictions are used of God, but as plaisters, or medicines, or as a •urnace. Now in as much as the godly will quickly judge themselves, and make their peace, therefo•e the Lord will soone ^qdraw off the crosse, the plaister shall lie no longer than till the sore be whole; and the goldsmith will let his metall lye in the fire no longer than till the drosse be• melted off, or it be fit to be wrought upon.

1. 1Why the afflictions of the godly are but for a ••••on: and how.Why the afflict••ns of the godly are but for a ••••on: and how.
2. p

Now if crosses should continue long in our reckoning (say it were the whole life of a man) what is mans life? even a vapour that appeareth a little time. Besides, what can thy longest crosses be in comparison of the pains of the damned from which thou art delivered, or of the joys and glory of heaven which thou shalt possess? Yea what is that thou dost suffer, in comparison of what thou deservest? but yet I say it is but a season, as we account seasons, even a small part of the life of the godly: For either the ⟨p. 57⟩Lord removes the cross, or takes away the sting of it, or sweetens it with his mercies.

Now if crosses should continue long in our reckoning (say it were the whole life of a man) what is mans life? even a vapour that appeareth a little time. Besides, what can thy longest crosses be in comparison of the paines of the damned from which thou art delivered, or of the joyes and glory of heaven which thou shalt possesse? Yea what is that thou dost suffer, in comparison of what thou deservest? but yet I say it is but a season, as wee account seasons, even a small part of the life of the godly: For either the ⟨p. 57⟩Lord removes the crosse, or takes away the sting of it, or sweetens it with his mercies.

The Use may be to teach us to check the ^runquietness and ^sfailings of our hearts, and to be ever ashamed of our selves,³ that we should make so much of our crosses, and so little of Gods mercies: we should learn, seeing they are but for a season, to ^thold fast the confidence of our hope, and live by faith, and if the Lord be angry ^uto hide our selves for a little season, till his indignation be past.

The Use may be to teach us to check the ^runquietnesse and ^sfailings of our hearts, and to be ever ashamed of our selves,³ that we should make so much of our crosses, and so little of Gods mercies: we should learne, seeing they are but for a season, to ^thold fast the confidence of our hope, and live by faith, and if the Lord be angry ^uto hide our selves for a little season, till his indignation be past.

1. rP• 42.11.
2. sPs 73.26. &c.
3. 3Use.

If need require.]

Here three things may be observed:

First, that Christians man• times make crosses to themselves, and draw §1heaviness upon their hearts, through fears, and suspicions, and unquietness, where there is no need: this is a great fault, and usually is a great scourge For by such distempers they many times lessen the comforts of God, and their credit with Gods children.

First, that Christians man• times make crosses to themselves, and draw §1heavinesse upon their hearts, through feares, and suspitions, and unquietnesse, where there is no need: this is a great fault, and usually is a great scourge For by such distempers they many times lessen the comforts of God, and their credit with Gods children.

Secondly, crosses and griefs are sometimes needful: needful I say to §2hide our pride, to wean us from the world, to put us in mind of death,¹ to make us desire heaven, to drive us to seek more grace and holiness, to prevent sin to come, to humble us for sins past, or to make trial of some grace of God in us. It is a comfort, that God will not afflict us till there be need.

Secondly, crosses and griefes are sometimes needfull: needfull I say to §2hide our pride, to weane us from the world, to put us in minde of death,¹ to make us desire heaven, to drive us to seeke more grace and holinesse, to prevent sinne to come, to humble us for sinnes past, or to make tryall of some grace of God in us. It is a comfort, that God will not afflict us till there be need.

1. 1Why crosses are sometimes needful.Why crosses are sometimes needfull.

Thirdly, In some crosses Christians need not be in heaviness: so was it §3with Job, and the Apostles in their sufferings; and that is first, when we find the sense of Gods love: secondly, while we keep our uprightness.

Thirdly, In some crosses Christians need not be in heavinesse: so was it §3with Iob, and the Apostles in their sufferings; and that is first, when we find the sense of Gods love: secondly, while we keep our uprightnesse.

Through manifold tentations.