experience will make our narrow confinement spacious enough for us; and, though our feet should be in the stocks, yet shall we, with the Apostles, be able, even there, to sing praises to our God. And experience, saith the Apostle, worketh hope; inasmuch as having formerly undergone the like afflictions, we may, with the more confidence, expect either the like support, or the like deliverance. And, lastly, hope maketh not ashamed: for the expectation of the righteous shall not be disappointed, but God will certainly deliver them, either from or by, all their sufferings and miseries. What a prevalent argument should this be unto patience under afflictions, since a true Christian makes such great improvements of his afflictions, that he would be an infinite loser, should he part with his advantages to be rid of his afflictions! That is the first benefit we gain by afflictions; they exercise and strengthen our graces.

(2) Another advantage of afflictions is this: that they are Physic to the Soul, to expel and purge out its corruptions.

And, therefore, though the potion be bitter; yet, when it is administered to such an end, this should reconcile our antipathy, correct our nauseating, and make us swallow it down without repining or murmuring. See that notable place, Isa. xxvii. 9. By this, therefore, shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all his fruit, to take away his sin. And this afflictions do, sometimes, by cutting off those provisions, which a more prosperous condition laid in, for the fulfilling of the lusts of the flesh when we cannot have such large supplies for those vanities and follies, which before too much alienated our hearts from God. Sometimes, they work more kindly and ingenuously, in a moral way; as they put men upon serious reflections, and cause them to consider their ways and doings: those, who were never pensive nor thoughtful before, will be so, when the hand of God lies heavy upon them: then, they begin to examine and ransack their consciences; and, as mariners, in a storm, throw overboard their freight to lighten the vessel; so these, when they are in a tempestuous condition, cast out this and that sin to lighten their souls, that the tempest may the sooner cease, or they the better out-ride it. And this is the very reason, why there is no place so holy as a sick-bed: have you never been conversant with those, who have been cast thereon, when their vessel hath sprung a plank, and death hath been leaking in on every side? have you never observed, how they have then

wholly applied themselves to prayer, and confession, and hea venly discourses? they are deadened to all the joys and vanities of the world; and detest their own folly, for ever loving and prizing them. And so is it, proportionably, in all other afflictions, that God brings upon us: they all tend to make us sober and considerative: for it is a natural impression upon the minds of men, that all our sufferings are for sin and this cannot but engage us against those sins, the smart of which we so sensibly feel; and, having had such experience of the bitter effects of sin, we are, afterwards, made more capable of the counsel of our Saviour, to sin no more, lest a worse thing befal us. Now, O Christian! if this be the fruit of thy afflictions, to purge thee from thy sins, wilt thou complain, that God deals too severely with thee, when he intends thee so great a blessing? canst thou patiently suffer incisions, caustics, searings, amputations, and cutting-off of whole limbs, and all the merciful torture that the art of the physician puts thee to, for the recovery of thy bodily health? and, yet, wilt thou murmur against the Great Physician, when he takes those methods, which, though they are grievous, yet are safest for the cure of thy spiritual diseases, which are infinitely more dangerous and destructive than any corporal maladies can be? certainly, thou either distrustest his skill, or foolishly preferrest thy present ease before thy eternal safety; and wouldst rather go down to hell, having two eyes and two hands, than enter into heaven halt and maimed. Possibly, God sees, that thou hast taken a dangerous surfeit of worldly comforts: and wilt thou vex and fret, that he gives thee a medicine to cast up what thou canst not digest, and to rid thee of what was a load and oppression to thy soul and conscience? Perhaps, he sees thy mind is lifted up, and swells with the tumor of pride and vain-glory, in a continued course of prosperity; and, therefore, the method of his goodness constrains him to lance thee: and wilt thou complain, that he wounds thee, when it is only to let out that purulency and corruption, which else might fester and gangrene, and prove thy utter bane and ruin? Could we but bring our untoward hearts to believe, that all our afflictions are but the prescriptions of our Great Physician; that he designs good to us by them; that, as much of our earthly enjoyments as he takes from us, as much blood as he lets, so much of our corruption and peccant humours run out together with it; common reason would easily persuade us, to bear that with patience, which will so vastly redound to our benefit and advantage.

(3) A patient bearing of afflictions is a clear Evidence of our Adoption.

Indeed, our sufferings only prove us to be the sons of Adam, on whom the curse is entailed through his primitive transgression but our patience under sufferings, is a strong proof and evidence, that we are the sons of God. All metals may be melted in the furnace; but it is the property of gold only, to endure the fire, and lose nothing of its weight or worth. The Apostle makes this the trial of our legitimation: Heb. xii. 7. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons: and, v. 8. If ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons: and, again, v. 6. Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth; and scourgeth every son, whom he receiveth. It is true, we cannot argue, that we are the children of God, merely because he scourgeth us; for God dispenseth afflictions, both as he is a Judge and as he is a Father: as he is a Judge, so he deals with wicked and ungodly men, often scourging them with rods, even in this life; and, afterwards, he eternally scourgeth them with scorpions in hell: but, then may we comfortably conclude, that he chasteneth us as a Father, when he gives us patience to bear his rebukes, and works in us a holy submission unto his divine will and pleasure: by this, he doth but set his mark upon thee; and, though it doth burn thee, yet this will be thy perpetual comfort, That, by this, he will own thee, and thou mayest know thyself to be his so the Apostle tells us, Gal. vi. 17. that he bare in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus; that is, all the persecutions and tribulations which he underwent, as they did conform him to a resemblance with the Lord Jesus, so likewise they were so many characters imprinted upon him, declaring to whom he did belong. And now, O Christian! is there any affliction so grievous, as such an evidence is comfortable? will not this abundantly recompense the pain and smart of all thy sufferings, when thy patience in bearing them shall give thee in a testimony that thou art a child of God, and fill thy inward sense as full of joy as thy outward can be of trouble and sorrow; yea, a joy unspeakable and glorious, that shall swallow up all the afflictions which thou feelest, and make them inconsiderable nothings? As St. Stephen was so wholly wrapped up with his heavenly vision, that, though the Jews gnashed upon him with their teeth, and dragged him forth to stone him; yet he was so wholly fixed and intent upon the glory of that unexampled sight, that he regarded not their

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threats, nor the stones they threw at him, which, he knew, would but pitch his way to heaven: so, truly, when it pleaseth God to open heaven in a man's soul and to ravish his heart with the dear sense of his eternal love, all outward sorrows and troubles are not of force sufficient to disturb his thoughts; but he is wholly possessed with the consolations of God: he retreats inward, and enjoys himself in peace and unspeakable comfort, in that retirement where afflictions and tribulations cannot reach him; and they can no more embitter his joys, than one drop of gall can embitter the whole sea, when it is let fall into it. Now God never affords such large and overflowing measures of his consolations, as in an afflicted condition: he gives his strongest cordials, when the spirits are most apt to fail and sink. And, therefore, thou, who hast laboured and prayed long for assurance, and wouldest esteem it a felicity next to the possession of heaven to know thy undoubted right unto it, set patience on work in all thy trials and afflictions: bear them quietly and submissively; and see, whether thou canst not read evidences enough for heaven, in the very print of the rod: see, whether God will not this way give thee in so much comfort, as shall turn thy patience into joy and triumph.

(4) Consider, that a patient suffering of afflictions will make rich Additions to the Weight and Splendour of thy Crown of Glory.

And wilt thou then, O Christian! murmur and repine at the weight of thy burden, when, at last, it will be all found to be gems and diadems, and all to be thine own? See what the Apostle saith, 2 Cor. iv. 17. Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory methinks, this consideration alone should be so effectual to teach us patience, that we should scarce have patience to hear any more: shall our glory superabound, as our sorrows have abounded? shall our eternal refreshings be measured out unto us, by the cup of afflictions which we have here drank of? doth God beat and hammer us, only that he may make us vessels of honour? shall all sighing and sorrow fly away, and everlasting and unmeasurable joy be upon our heads? Where fore then, O Christian! these impatient complaints, these fretful vexations? dost thou do well to be angry? to fume and estuate, because God takes the course to make thee too glorious? art thou likely to be happier than thou wouldst be? or, doth God do thee an injury, to fit thee for a higher place in heaven, than,

perhaps, thou carest to possess? Believe it, thou art the greatest enemy to thyself: and, if thou wouldst have thy good things here, thou dischargest God from his obligation: thy impatience can free thee from no other weight but one; and that is, the exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Thus, therefore, if we consider the great benefits and advantages, that will accrue to us by a patient bearing of afflictions; that it is exercise to our graces, physic for our souls, an evidence of our adoption, and an addition, to our future glory; we should soon be convinced, that it is much more our interest to be patient, than it is, not to be afflicted.

That is, therefore, the Fourth Motive.

5. Another motive may be this: that a patient bearing of afflictions is a very great Honour, both to Ourselves, and to God. (1) To Ourselves.

Consult 1 Pet. iv. 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. It is for the honour of your faith, and hope, and all the rest of your graces, 1 Pet. i. 7. that the trial of your faith, which is more precious than of gold.....though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory. There is nothing more honourable than fortitude and magnanimity. Now, it is the heroic gallantry of a Christian spirit, not to be outbaffled by afflictions: but, when his body or estate are broken by them; yet to keep his soul sound and entire, and, in the greatest agonies of sorrows from God, with an undaunted meekness, to say, "Strike, Lord, for thy servant beareth:" and, in the greatest rage of persecutions from men, to scorn their weak attempts, and shew a courage able to endure far more than they are able to inflict. Thus the Primitive Christians tormented their tormentors; and, by their conquering patience, turned their despite against themselves, to gnaw and fret their own bowels.

(2) It brings in a great revenue of glory unto God.

For what can reflect a greater honour upon God, than that, though we suffer from him or for him, yet we can bear it patiently, because it is his hand that inflicts it? Cassian relates a story to this purpose: That a Christian, being injured and tormented by the Heathens and afterwards cast into prison, being asked by one, what miracles Christ had ever wrought, answered him, "The same that you now see, viz. that though I have been