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.…

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

Answ. They may; and I think that may be meant here; but then these rules must be noted. First, that their heaviness be rather for some sin in themselves,¹ which might cause the cross, then for the cross it self. Secondly, that their heaviness be moderate.

Answ. They may; and I think that may be meant here; but then these rules must be noted. First, that their heavinesse be rather for some sinne in themselves,¹ which might cause the crosse, then for the crosse it selfe. Secondly, that their heavinesse be moderate.

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

Quest. But when is sorrow for afflictions moderate?

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.

There are four kinds of tentations: First,¹ there is the ^atentation of persecution; and well may persecution be called tentation: For it is a property in most persecutors to tempt and entice, that they may seduce; and besides, the Lord hereby doth try the faith of men; for in the time of this tentation the temporary faith will fail. Secondly, there is the tentation of affliction, afflictions in ^bgeneral are called tentations in divers places, and they may well be called so, either because they tempt or because they try. They tempt, and that either to vice, or despair: To vice, for afflictions they tempt men to lying, deceit, stealing, swearing, oppression, usury, filthiness, idolatry, carnal shifts, breach of Sabbath, passion, bitter words, inordinate desires, &c. yea and in some men they tempt to despair, and the blasphemy against Gods mercy, as in Cain and Judas. This should teach us to watch over our selves in our troubles, that we be not led aside with the tentations of afflictions; and we should account it a great mercy of God to get out of our trouble, free from the infection of any of the former, or the like vices: and let wicked men know, that to be taken with the tentation of the cross, is worse than the cross it self; deceit is worse than want of trade, &c. Now afflictions are said to be tentations also, because they try men: For they try our faith and patience, and the constancy of our obedience to God. But of the trial of crosses in the next verse.

There are foure kinds of tentations: First,¹ there is the ^atentation of persecution; and well may persecution be called tentation: For it is a property in most persecutors to tempt and intice, that they may seduce; and besides, the Lord hereby doth try the faith of men; for in the time of this tentation the temporary faith will faile. Secondly, there is the tentation of affliction, afflictions in ^bgenerall are called tentations in divers places, and they may well be called so, either because they tempt or because they try. They tempt, and that either to vice, or despaire: To vice, for afflictions they tempt men to lying, deceit, stealing, swearing, oppression, usury, filthinesse, idolatry, carnall shifts, breach of Sabbath, passion, bitter words, inordinate desires, &c. yea and in some men they tempt to despaire, and the blasphemy against Gods mercy, as in Cain and Iudas. This should teach us to watch over our selves in our troubles, that we be not led aside with the tentations of afflictions; and we should account it a great mercy of God to get out of our trouble, free from the infection of any of the former, or the like vices: and let wicked men know, that to be taken with the tentation of the crosse, is worse than the crosse it selfe; deceit is worse than want of trade, &c. Now afflictions are said to be tentations also, because they try men: For they try our faith and patience, and the constancy of our obedience to God. But of the tryall of crosses in the next verse.

The third kind of tentations is the tentation of concupiscence, of which ^cJames speaks, when he saith, a man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his concupiscence: Observe a plain proof, that the internal evils that arise from corruption of nature are called tentations.

The third kind of tentations is the tentation of concupiscence, of which ^cIames speaks, when he saith, a man is tempted, when he is drawne away of his concupiscence: Observe a plaine proofe, that the internall evils that arise from corruption of nature are called tentations.

1. cJam. •.14.Iam. •.14.