First, Reasons. 1 because the afflictions of the Saints do exceedingly humble them: for they look upward in their distresses, and behold Gods righteous hand smiting them, and thereupon descend unto themselves, and dive deep into their hearts, to ⟨p. 180⟩search what corruptions do lurk there, whereby the Lord is incensed against them, that so those being removed by sound repentance, his heavy displeasure may be turned away from them, and his loving countenance may shine upon them. This is it that Gods children will sooner, or later come unto, albeit for a fit they be passionate and discontented: they will at length turn their eyes from looking upon their crosses, to see the true cause thereof, and so be grieved for their offences against God, 1and smite upon their thighs in a holy indignation against themselves, in regard of their pride and unbelief and unthankfulness, and other the like corruptions. They then leave off musing on other mens injuries, and begin to bethink themselves of their own transgressions, that so casting down themselves by godly sorrow, 2the Lord may raise them up to pure and holy joy, which he will certainly do in due season; neither shall all their sins and sorrows be able to keep them down, when once they are thoroughly humbled under the holy hand of God. It is his promise then to lift them up, and Christ his office to comfort them that mourn: 3and therefore as those that in their miseries are passionate, and desperate, full of murmuring against God, and of fretting against men, cannot expect any joyful issue out of their troubles: so on the other side, they that are lowly and broken hearted, much dejected and abased in the presence of the Lord, and mild and peaceable in their carriage before ⟨p. 181⟩men, they may be assured that all their sighs shall end in songs, that all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes, and that in stead of the spirit of heaviness, they shall in due time be clad with the garments of gladness.
First, Reasons. 1 because the afflictions of the Saints do exceedingly humble them: for they looke vpward in their distresses, and behold Gods righteous hand smiting them, and thereupon descend vnto themselues, and diue deepe into their hearts, to ⟨p. 180⟩search what corruptions doe lurke there, whereby the Lord is incensed against them, that so those being remoued by sound repentance, his heauie displeasure may bee turned away from them, and his louing countenance may shine vpon them. This is it that Gods children will sooner, or later come vnto, albeit for a fit they bee passionate and discontented: they will at length turne their eies from looking vpon their crosses, to see the true cause thereof, and so be grieued for their offences against God, 1and smite vpon their thighs in a holy indignation against themselues, in regard of their pride and vnbeleefe and vnthankfulnesse, and other the like corruptions. They then leaue off musing on other mens iniuries, and begin to bethinke themselues of their owne transgressions, that so casting downe themselues by godly sorrow, 2the Lord may raise them vp to pure and holy ioy, which he will certainly doe in due season; neither shall all their sinnes and sorrowes bee able to keepe them downe, when once they are thoroughly humbled vnder the holy hand of God. It is his promise then to lift them vp, and Christ his office to comfort them that mourne: 3and therfore as those that in their miseries are passionate, and desperate, full of murmuring against God, and of fretting against men, cannot expect any ioyfull issue out of their troubles: so on the other side, they that are lowly and broken harted, much deiected and abased in the presence of the Lord, and milde and peaceable in their carriage before ⟨p. 181⟩men, they may be assured that all their sighs shall end in songs, that all teares shall bee wiped away from their eyes, and that in stead of the spirit of heauinesse, they shall in due time be clad with the garments of gladnesse.
- 1Jer. 31.19.Ier. 31.19.
- 21 Pet. 5.6.
- 3Isa. 61.
