What suffering then can be so great, in which a believer should not rejoice, when he is before hand promised a gracious end? ⟨p. 110⟩What though at the present it be not joyous, but grievous (in it self?) We should bear it with patience, when we know that at last it shall bring forth the peaceable fruits, of righteousness to all them that are exercised thereby, Heb. 12. 11. If we should be always abused, and always unthankfully and unkindly dealt with, or always under the scorns or slanders, or persecutions of unreasonable men, or always under our poverty, and toilsome labours, or always under our pains and pining sicknesses, we might then in deed dismiss our comforts: But when we know that it will be but a little while, and that all will end in Rest and Joy; and that our sorrows are but preparing for those Joys; even Reason it self is taught by Faith, to bid us rejoice in all our tribulations, and to lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees, Heb. 12. 12. We make nothing to endure a sudden prick, that by blood-letting we may prevent a long disease. The short pain of pulling out a tooth, is ordinarily endured, to prevent a longer. A woman doth bear the pains of her travail, because it is short, and tends to the bringing of a child into the world. Who would not submit to any labour or toil for a day, that he might win a life of plenty and delight by it? who ⟨image 78⟩would not be spit upon, and made the scorn of the world for a day, if he might have his will for it as long as he liveth on earth? And should we not then cheerfully submit to our momentany afflictions, and the troubles of a few days, (which are light, and mixed with a world of mercies,) when we know that they are working for us, a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory? 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our clamorous and malicious enemies, our quarrelsome Brethren, our peevish friends, our burdensome corruptions and imperfections will shortly trouble us no more. As our life is short, and but a dream and shadow, and therefore the pleasures of this world are no better; so our troubles also will be no longer, and are but sad dreams, and dark shadows, that quickly pass away: Our Lord that hath begun and gone on so far, will finish his victories, and the last enemy shall shortly be destroyed.
What suffering then can be so great, in which a believer should not rejoyce, when he is before hand promised a gracious end? ⟨p. 110⟩What though at the present it be not joyous, but greivous (in it self?) We should bear it with patience, when we know that at last it shall bring forth the peaceable fruits, of righteousness to all them that are exercised thereby, Heb. 12. 11. If we should be alwayes abused, and alwayes unthankfully and unkindly dealth with, or alwayes under the scorns or slanders, or persecutions of unreasonable men, or alwayes under our poverty, and toilsome labours, or alwayes under our pains and pining sicknesses, we might then in deed dismiss our comforts: But when we know that it will be but a little while, and that all will end in Rest and Joy; and that our sorrows are but preparing for those Joyes; even Reason it self is taught by Faith, to bid us rejoyce in all our tribulations, and to lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees, Heb. 12. 12. We make nothing to endure a sudden prick, that by blood-letting we may prevent a long disease. The short pain of pulling out a tooth, is ordinarily endured, to prevent a longer. A woman doth bear the pains of her travail, because it is short, and tends to the bringing of a child into the world. Who would not submit to any labour or toyl for a day, that he might win a life of plenty and delight by it? who ⟨image 78⟩would not be spit upon, and made the scorn of the world for a day, if he might have his will for it as long as he liveth on earth? And should we not then cheerfully submit to our momentany afflictions, and the troubles of a few dayes, (which are light, and mixt with a world of mercies,) when we know that they are working for us, a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory? 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our clamorous and malicious enemies, our quarrelsome Brethren, our peevish friends, our burdensome corruptions and imperfections will shortly trouble us no more. As our life is short, and but a dream and shadow, and therefore the pleasures of this world are no better; so our troubles also will be no longer, and are but sad dreams, and dark shadows, that quickly pass away: Our Lord that hath begun and gone on so far, will finish his victories, and the last enemy shall shortly be destroyed.
