Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen.-2 Cor. iv. 16-18; Heb. x. 34-36. In nothing terrified by your adversaries; which is to them an evident token of perdition; but to you of salvation, and that of God.-Phil. i. 28. Tribulations, that ye endure, &c. that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God.-2 Thess. i. 4, 5. It is a faithful saying, &c. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.2 Tim. ii. 11, 12; Rom. viii. 17, 18; 1 Pet. iv. 13. We have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? for they, &c. chastened us after their own pleasure; but he, for our profit, &c. No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Heb. xii. 9-11. Ye are in heaviness, &c. that the trial of your faith, &c. might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. i. 6, 7. See Second Consideration following. correcteth, &c. for he maketh sore, and bindeth up, &c.-Job v 17, 18. Blessed is the man whom thou chasteneth, O Lord; and teachest him out of thy law.-Ps. xciv. 12. Whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.-Prov. iii. 12. He that spareth the rod, hateth his son: but he that loveth him, chasteneth him betimes.-Prov. xiii. 24. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, &c. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake: rejoice, and be exceeding glad. -Matt. v. 4. 10-12. Blessed are ye that hunger now, &c. that weep now, &c. But woe unto you that are rich, &c. that are full, &c. that laugh now, &c. when all men speak well of you.-Luke vi. 21, 22. 24-26. In nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition; but to you of salvation, and that of God: for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.-Phil. i. 28, 29. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons for what son is there? &c. If ye be without chastisement, &c. then are ye bastards, and not sons.-Heb. xii. 7, 8. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, &c. We count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job. -James v. 11. SECT. 3.-The Considerations which should stay, bear up, and comfort-James i. 12. the Spirits of Christians in their Afflictions and under Persecutions. Cons. I. That it is their Portion, which God appointed them to in this Life; and that too for good Ends. Cons. II. That such who are so exercised, are blessed and happy, and so pronounced in Scripture; a Seal of their Sonship, and God's choice Love to them, and of their Salvation. BEHOLD, happy is the man whom God If ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid. 1 Pet. iii. 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you, &c.-1 Pet. iv. 14. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.-Rev. iii. 19. Blessed are the dead which die in | for I know their sorrows.-Exod. iii. the Lord, (or for the Lord's sake.)-7; Acts vii. 34; Ps. x. 14. Rev. xiv. 13. Cons. III. That God well knows the design and ways of Satan, and all the adversaries of Believers: and that they can do no more, nor proceed further against us than God permits. "He turns about their purposes. Your father deceived me, &c. but God suffered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, &c. Laban pursued Jacob, &c. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad, (or from good to bad,) &c. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob, &c.-Gen. xxxi. 7, 8. 23, 24. 29. 42. When Esau was coming against Jacob with four hundred men, and Jacob was afraid, yet God changed Esau's heart; so that when he met Jacob, he embraced him, &c. which made Jacob say to Esau, I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.-Gen. xxxii. 6--8; xxxiii.3, 4. 10. And the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.-Gen. xxxv. 5. Joseph's brethren, when they saw him, &c. conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh; come now therefore, and let us slay him, &c. and we shall see what will become of his dreams, &c. All which God prevented, and purposed better things. Gen. xxxvii. 17, &c.; xxxix. 1. 19, 20. The king of Egypt designed the weakening of Israel, and preventing their increase but the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied.-Exod. i. 9-12. 20. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people, &c. Pharaoh could not hurt Moses and Aaron, though they came with so many threatenings from God.-Exod. vii; viii, &c. Pharaoh's design in pursuing Israel God knew, and prevented Pharaoh, and overthrew him.-Exod. xiv. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, mine hand shall destroy (or repossess) them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them, they sank as lead, &c. Who is like unto thee, O Lord? Exod. xv. 9—11. Balak's design was to have Balaam to curse Israel: but God overruled him, so that he could not but bless Israel.-Numb. xxii; xxiv. 10—13; xxiii. Saul designed to kill David, made many attempts, and pursued him; yet could never effect it: God prevented him.-1 Sam. xviii; xix; xxiii; xxiv; xxvi. Ahithophel gave counsel against David, but God brought it to nought, and suffered not his enemies to bring their designs to pass.-2 Sam. xvii. The king of Syria went up against Samaria, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me. But God prevented him.-1 Kings xx. 1, 2. 10. 21. God defeated the king of Syria's design againt Elisha.-2 Kings vi. 13, &c. The enemies of Israel set themselves to hinder the building of the temple; asked who commanded them to do it; wrote to the king against it; but God prevented their purpose, and brought forth the contrary effect. -Ezra v ; vi. When Israel were building, the adversaries conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. And when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, we returned, &c.-Neh. iv. 7—9. 11. 15. Haman's great design was to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews; and it went on far: but God then turned it quite about.-Esth. v; vi; vii; viii. Job could not be touched by Satan any farther, or otherwise, than so far as God gave him leave.-Job i. 912; ii. 4-6. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness, &c. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noon-day.— Job v. 12-14. Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, &c. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.Ps. ii. 1, 2. 4. 6; lix. 7, 8. He ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood: he made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made: his mischief shall return upon his own head; and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.-Ps. vii. 13-16; ix. 15, 16. They intended evil against thee; they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.Ps. xxi. 11. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.— Ps. xxiii. 5. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.-Ps. xxxiii. 10, 11. By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.--Ps. xli. 11. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.-Ps. lxxvi. 10. When Israel were but few in number, &c. when they went from one nation to another, &c. he suffered no man to do them wrong; yea, he reproved kings for their sakes.-Ps. cv. 12-15. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they had swallowed us up quick.-Ps. cxxiv. 1-7; Gen. xxxi. 42. There are many devices in a man's heart, nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.-Prov. xix. 21. There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord.-Prov. xxi. 30; Gen. xi. 4,&c. Be quiet, and fear not, &c. Because Syria, &c. have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, &c. Thus saith the Lord God, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.—Isa. vii. 4-7; Micah iv. 11-13. Associate yourselves, O ye people; and ye shall be broken in pieces, &c. Gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought: speak the word, and it shall not stand for God is with us.—Isa. viii. 9, 10; Jer. xlviii. 30. O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, &c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, &c. Howbeit, he meaneth not so, &c. It is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work, &c. I will punish the fruit, &c.-Isa. x. 5-7. 12. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord; and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay.-Isa. xxix. 15, 16. Sennacherib comes against Jerusa lem, and by Rabshakeh proclaims his proud design; but God wonderfully disappointed him.-Isa. xxxvi; xxxvii. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me. Whosoever shall gather together against thee, shall fall for thy sake, &c. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.-Isa. liv. 15. 17. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him, (or put him to flight.)-Isa. lix. 19. I am with thee, &c. They shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.Jer. i. 18, 19; xv. 11. 20; xx. 11. Although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come, &c. I will even gather you from the people, &c.-Ezek. xi. 16, 17. All that the envious presidents and princes could do and devise against Daniel could not hurt him; but he prospered in the reign of Darius, and of Cyrus. And so the three children. -Dan. vi. 28. Many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled; let our eyes look upon Zion: but they know not the thoughts of the Lord; for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.-Micah iv. 11-13. Herod designs the killing of the child Jesus; he sends to inquire after him, gives order for the slaying of all the children of that age: yet God suffered him not to effect his design.-Matt. ii. 1-16. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.-Matt. x. 29–31. There came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence, for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day, and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected; nevertheless, I must walk to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following, &c.-Luke xiii. 31— 33; John vii. 30. Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake; but there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.— Luke xxi. 17-19. When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness, &c.— Luke xxii. 53; John viii. 20. Then saith Pilate, &c. Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.-John xix. 10, 11. Against thy holy child Jesus, both Herod, &c. were gathered together, for to do what thy hand and counsel determined before to be done.-Acts iv. 27, 28. They took counsel to slay the apostles; but Gamaliel said, Refrain from these men, and let them alone : for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.-Acts v. 33-40. When Saul was going in his fury to persecute the Christians, God meets with him, and stays the persecution.-Acts ix. 1, &c. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.— Acts xv. 18. Speak, and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee, to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city.-Acts xviii. 9, 10. Many had conspired and bound themselves under a curse to kill Paul ere they did eat: yet God disappointed them.-Acts xxiii. 12, 13. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able.-1 Cor. x. 13. Cons. IV. That God orders and determines the Measure, Manner, Time, and Continuance of Afflictions and Persecutions, and that according to our Necessities. GOD said unto Abraham, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years, &c. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again.-Gen. xv. 13-16. And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, the self-same day it came to pass, that all the host of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.-Exod. xii. 40, 41. 51. God led Israel not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near: for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.-Exod. xiii. 17. Their heart was not right with him, &c. but he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.-Ps. lxxviii. 37-39. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.-Ps. cxix. 75. It shall come to pass, when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon Mount Zion, and upon Jerusalem: I will punish the fruit of the stout heart, &c. O my people, be not afraid of the Assyrian, he shall smite thee with a rod, &c. For yet a very little while, and the indig. nation shall cease, &c.-Isa. x. 12. 24, 25; Deut. xxxii. 36; 2 Kings xiv. 26. In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.-Isa. xxvii. 8. Thus saith the Lord, After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. Jer. xxix. 10; Ezra i. 1—3. I will not make a full end of thee; but I will correct thee in measure, and will not, &c.-Jer. xxx. 11; xlvi. 27. He doth not afflict willingly, (or from his heart,) neither grieve the children of men.-Lam. iii. 33. This is your hour, and the power of darkness.-Luke xxii. 53. Against thy holy child Jesus, &c. to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. -Acts iv. 27, 28. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.-1 Cor. X. 13. He was sick, nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.Phil. ii. 27. Ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.-1 Pet. i. 6. The God of all grace, &c. after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect.-1 Pet. v. 10. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, &c. and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.-Rev. ii. 10. U |