Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

Besides, they are no great matter, take them at the worst, they are but little things; these light afflictions: there is no such grievous burden in them, as the world thinks there is, for there is the hand of Christ, to hold them up in all their afflictions: they are but such things, as rather seem grievous then are grievous indeed, as Heb. 12. 11. No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; they are things that are grievous in appearance, and in show only, rather then in truth; as the prosperity of the wicked is but in show, so the affliction of Gods people are rather shows, they do rather seem grievous, then have any realty of grief in them, and therefore they are not so much to be feared.

Besides, they are no great matter, take them at the worst, they are but little things; these light afflictions: there is no such grievous burthen in them, as the world thinks there is, for there is the hand of Christ, to hold them up in all their afflictions: they are but such things, as rather seem grievous then are grievous indeed, as Heb. 12. 11. No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; they are things that are grievous in appearance, and in shew onely, rather then in truth; as the prosperity of the wicked is but in shew, so the affliction of Gods people are rather shews, they do rather seem grievous, then have any realty of grief in them, and therefore they are not so much to be feared.

Again, they are but for a little time, but for a moment: ¹As it was the speech of Athanasius, when he was banished, and his friends came to bewail his misery, says he, It is but a little cloud, and will quickly ²be gone: All the time of the rage and malice of wicked men, is but as an hour; says Christ, This is their hour, and the power of darkness; it is but an hour, and is quickly gone. Christs sufferings both in himself and in his Church, is but drinking of the brook, not a spring of water for perpetuity.