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.…

1. First, there is a great comfort in it, and that four ways:¹

1. First, there is a great comfort in it, and that foure waies:¹

1. 1Comforts in our t•••ls.

1. For first it is a comfort, that God makes so much account of men, as to think them worthy the melting or trying: even this favour Job wonders at, Joh 7.18.

1. For first it is a comfort, that God makes so much account of men, as to think them worthy the melting or trying: even this favour Iob wonders at, Ioh 7.18.

2. Secondly, it is comfortable, that it is Gods wont to try his servants, it hath been Gods custom to do so. It is no strange thing, if he try us, he doth no more than what he hath done to them that were dear unto him, Heb. 11.36.

2. Secondly, it is comfortable, that it is Gods wont to try his servants, it hath been Gods custome to doe so. It is no strange thing, if he try us, hee doth no more than what hee hath done to them that were deare unto him, Heb. 11.36.

First he appoints their time how long they shall tarry there, and beyond that time they shall not be in the furnace, Dan. 11.35.

Secondly, the Prophet Malachi says, he sitteth down himself by the furnace to tend it, and to look to them, Mal. 3.2. or if he be upon any occasion urged to be absent, the Prophet Isaiah says, he flies, and returns, Isaiah 31.9. and ult. &c.

Secondly, the Prophet Malachy saies, he sitteth down himself by the furnace to tend it, and to look to them, Mal. 3.2. or if he be upon any occasion urged to be absent, the Prophet Esay saies, he flies, and returnes, Esay 31.9. and ult. &c.

Thirdly, if they have any suit to God, or make any moan while they live in the furnace, they are sure to be heard, no time like it for the hearing of prayer, Zach. 13.9.

Thirdly, if they have any sute to God, or make any moane while they live in the furnace, they are sure to be heard, no time like it for the hearing of prayer, Zach. 13.9.

Fourthly, if the fire be too hot for them, he will defer his wrath, and refrain from them, Isaiah 48.9, 10.

Fourthly, if the fire be too hot for them, he will defer his wrath, and refraine from them, Esay 48.9, 10.

Fifthly, he will take notice of a little grace in the midst of a great deal of dross: if there be but a sigh, a good thought, a holy desire in the midst of a great deal of ignorance and perturbation, he will accept it, and account of it, Rom. 8.27.

Fiftly, he will take notice of a little grace in the midst of a great deale of drosse: if there be but a sigh, a good thought, a holy desire in the midst of a great deale of ignorance and perturbation, he will accept it, and account of it, Rom. 8.27.

4. Fourthly, it is a comfortable doctrine to Gods children, if they consider but the effect of this melting, and that either the present effect, or the future. The present, it is to try them, not to consume them, or to make a full end of them: it is to refine them, not to destroy them, Dan. 11.36. Jer. 46. ult. and they shall come out, as Job saith, as the gold, Job 23.10. And besides, for the time to come, it is certain, the Lord tries them, that he may do them good at their latter end, Deut. 8.14, 15, 16. and after they are tried they shall have a crown of life, Jam. 1.12.

4. Fourthly, it is a comfortable doctrine to Gods children, if they consider but the effect of this melting, and that either the present effect, or the future. The present, it is to try them, not to consume them, or to make a full end of them: it is to refine them, not to destroy them, Dan. 11.36. Ier. 46. ult. and they shall come out, as Iob saith, as the gold, Iob 23.10. And besides, for the time to come, it is certaine, the Lord tryes them, that hee may doe them good at their latter end, Deut. 8.14, 15, 16. and after they are tryed they shall have a crowne of life, Iam. 1.12.

And thus of the Use for consolation.

Secondly, this doctrine is a terrible doctrine too: terrible I say in general to all such as will not be purged by affliction: such as will not be made better by their crosses: Let them consider, that it is the Lord that cast them into the furnace, and seeing they mend not, one of these two evils will befall ⟨p. 64⟩them: Either the Lord will give them over, as altogether dross, and so they shall never be purged, or else since they will not mend by the beginnings of his displeasure, he will cause his fury to rest upon them, as the Prophet speaks, Ezech. 24.13, 14. and in particular, woe to all wicked men that nourish themselves in sin, because they are inward or secret sins. Little do they know, or think that God will search Jerusalem with lights, even all them that be frozen in their dregs, or settled on their lees, Zeph. 1.12. When the Lord will search for them, it is not the top of Carmel, nor the bottom of the sea that shall hide them, &c. Amos 9.2, 3. And in special, woe is to all hypocrites, they are fallen into Gods hand, that compasseth about all their ways, there is not a thought in their minds, but God seeth: woe to careless professors, the Lord will make all the Churches to know, that he searcheth the heart and reins, Rev. 2.23.

Secondly, this doctrine is a terrible doctrine too: terrible I say in generall to all such as will not be purged by affliction: such as will not be made better by their crosses: Let them consider, that it is the Lord that cast them into the furnace, and seeing they mend not, one of these two evils will befall ⟨p. 64⟩them: Either the Lord will give them over, as altogether drosse, and so they shall never be purged, or else since they will not mend by the beginnings of his displeasure, he will cause his fury to rest upon them, as the Prophet speaks, Ezech. 24.13, 14. and in particular, woe to all wicked men that nourish themselves in sinne, because they are inward or secret sinnes. Little doe they know, or thinke that God will search Ierusalem with lights, even all them that be frozen in their dregges, or setled on their lees, Zph. 1.12. When the Lord will search for them, it is not the top of Carmell, nor the bottome of the sea that shall hide them, &c.

Thirdly, this doctrine may teach us two things: 1. First, to be more careful of in •ard uprightness, seeing it is God that trieth us, who tries the heart as well as the life, 1 Chro. 29.19. 2. Secondly, in all the wrongs and aspersions of wicked men to put our selves upon Gods trial, Psal. 7.9. Jer. 11.20. 1 Thes. 2.4.

Thirdly, this doctrine may teach us two things: 1. First, to be more carefull of in •ard uprightnesse, seeing it is God that tryeth us, who tries the heart as well as the life, 1 Chro. 29.19. 2. Secondly, in all the wrongs and aspersions of wicked men to put our selves upon Gods tryall, Psal. 7.9. Ier. 11.20. 1 Thes. 2.4.

Of your faith.

Two things I note here.

1. First, that where God gives faith, he will try it, where he bestows the assurance of his favour (let men look for it. For) certainly he will melt them, God will try our faith for divers reasons, he will thereby melt off the rust of antiquity. There be certain odd and old opinions, and conceits in men at their first conversion, and it is Gods manner to school men by afflictions, and many times a Christian in a few days of adversity learns more true knowledge, then otherwise he would do in many weeks. Again, there are dregs of unbelief in the best and these need to go into the furnace to get them off: Besides, by affliction God doth show the truth of his own grace from that, which is but counterfeit in wicked men. The furnace manifestly puts a difference between a justifying faith, and the best of all other faiths, to wit, temporary faith: this may serve to confute their folly, that think themselves happy, because they are not in trouble as other men. But contrariwise, this is an ill sign many times that they are miserable, and have not any faith that would endure the trial. This should also teach us so to seek assurance of Gods favour, or so to hold the possession of it as to look for assaults and trials, while we are in this world more or less.

1. First, that where God gives faith, he will try it, where he bestowes the assurance of his favour (let men looke for it. For) certainly hee will melt them, God will try our faith for divers reasons, he will thereby melt off the rust of antiquity. There be certaine odde and old opinions, and conceits in men at their first conversion, and it is Gods manner to schoole men by afflictions, and many times a Christian in a few daies of adversity learnes more true knowledge, then otherwise hee would doe in many weekes. Againe, there are dregges of unbeliefe in the best and these need to goe into the furnace to get them off: Besides, by affliction God doth shew the truth of his owne grace from that, which is but counterfeit in wicked men. The furnace manifestly puts a difference betweene a justifying faith, and the best of all other faiths, to wit, temporary faith: this may serve to confute their folly, that think themselves happy, because they are not in trouble as other men. But contrariwise, this is an ill signe many times that they are miserable, and have not any faith that would endure the tryall. This should also teach us so to seeke assurance of Gods favour, or so to hold the possession of it as to looke for assaults and tryals, while we are in this world more or lesse.