God's anger

Heaven is a place of infinite glory and joy; yet is there little joy or glory in the way thither. The passage rather lies through much tribulation: ¹so trouble some a gallery leads to so happy a bedchamber. There is not a soul in the cluster of mankind exempted from sorrow; much less shall those grapes escape pressing, which God hath reserved for his own cup. All that will live godly in Christ, shall suffer persecution. Not all that ²live, but all that live godly: nor all that live godly in respect of outward form, but th it live godly in Christ. Paul, his Attorney, pleads their afflictions with an Oportet: and lest some should look for a dispensation, he backs it with an Omnis. ⟨p. 40⟩The Saints that have overcome the hill, be singing above: we that are climbing up, must be groaning all the way. The Anthems in-the up per Quire, the Church Triumphant, are all Hymns of joy: the militant part must be content with sad tunes in this valley of tears. Not that the blessedness of Immortality is no more perfect, but that it needs a foil of perplexity to set it off. Not that the joy of heaven is no more sweet, but that it needs the sourness of the world to give it a taste. Not that the peace and plenty of Canaan, required the wants and molestations of this wilderness to commend it. But so it pleaseth the Almighty King, who of his own free grace doth give the preferment, to interpose the conditions: that the sorrow and ingloriousness of this world, should be the thoroughfare to the glories and joys of his Kingdom. For if it pleased him to consecrate the Prince and Captain of our salvation through sufferings; what privilege can the common soldiers and subjects expect? Deus Filium habuit unum sine peccato, nullum sine flagella. We that hold our inheritance in Capite, have no other title to it then Christ had before us; by suffering.