Divine Consolation Produces Patience Under Afflictions.
_Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him._-JAMES 1:12.
Even as G.o.d has provided healing remedies for the body in external nature; so has he also for the soul in his holy Word. And as in this valley of misery and tears, no man can be perfectly free from crosses, afflictions, and troubles; so nothing can be more seasonable than to collect certain heads out of the word of G.o.d, by a proper application of which we may find help and comfort in the hour of temptation.
2. The _first_ comfort is the consideration of the divine providence, which lays the burden upon us. "The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up." 1 Sam. 2:6. "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away." Job 1:21. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father." Matt. 10:29. "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil." Isa. 45:7. "Happy is the man whom G.o.d correcteth; therefore, despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for he maketh sore, and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole." Job 5:17, 18. It is, therefore, foolish to be angry with those whom G.o.d makes the instruments of our correction. "Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord." Lam. 3:39, 40. This is the design of G.o.d, that we should repent and turn from our sins, and not murmur against him that afflicts us.
3. The _second_ head of comfort is to consider the end and design of our cross, namely, that G.o.d sends it, not out of wrath, but from pure love to our souls. How dangerous it is to a man"s soul to be always prosperous and at ease, we may learn not only from the case of "the rich man" (Luke 16:25), but also from the example of our first parents, whose happiness in paradise being greater than they could bear, they were, by the temptations of Satan, seduced from their obedience and dependence upon G.o.d. Gen. 3.
And every day furnishes us with fresh instances of the danger of such a state. Now, though G.o.d, in strict justice, might have condemned man to everlasting punishment, yet he chose rather to have pity on him, and devised means for recovering his lost happiness; and one of these is the cross, or affliction. For this cause he drove him out of paradise, that in the "sweat of his face he should eat bread" (Gen. 3:19), to the intent that, by sufferings, he might be brought to repentance; and this is his constant method even to this day. Though we offend him by innumerable sins, yet, in his abundant mercy, he leaves nothing undone, no means untried, that may lead to our conversion and amendment. And this is the reason why Providence appoints every particular man his cross, that we may all be kept in true penitence and the fear of G.o.d unto eternal life. Hence it is that G.o.d is said to correct those whom he loves, that they may not be condemned with the world. Prov. 3:11, 12; 13:24; Heb. 12:6; 1 Cor.
11:32.
4. The _third_ argument is sin itself, by considering whether thou hast not deserved thy punishments. If thou hast (which thou canst not deny), then it is agreeable to the divine justice that thou shouldest suffer.
Now, a temporal suffering, attended with the divine mercy and comfort, is certainly more desirable than an eternal one, without hopes of comfort or expectation of redemption. Call to mind the rich man, in vain crying out: "Father Abraham, have mercy on me" (Luke 16:24), and a.s.sure thyself that it will be no small comfort to consider that G.o.d has changed the eternal punishment threatened to our sins into a temporal correction that can be endured.
5. _Fourthly_, when thou art afflicted, consider how much Christ suffered for thy sake! Think upon his poverty, "who had not where to lay his head!"
Matt. 8:20. Remember the indignities which he underwent, such as no man ever did or will endure: being "despised and rejected of men" (Isa. 53:3, 4); yea, "a worm, and no man." Ps. 22:6. Moreover, as he took upon him the miseries, pains, and diseases of all the world, hence it was that he underwent such bitter sufferings, such dreadful torments, that even the sun and moon were darkened at the sight, the earth quaked, and the rocks rent; all which, though for the sake of his most cruel enemies, he bore with a love so inexpressibly pure, with a meekness and patience so sincere, that "as a lamb, he opened not his mouth." Moreover, though we provoke him every day by innumerable transgressions, yet he continues, and will still continue faithful, and ready to receive us to his favor upon our repentance (Jer. 3:9); yea, and if the ransom he has already paid were not sufficient, he would lay down his life again for our sakes. Therefore, he bears patiently with us, and waits day and night to be gracious. For so strong, so ardent, is his love towards us, that it cannot be quenched by any sins, any ingrat.i.tude of ours, if we but sincerely repent of them. His love is higher than heaven, deeper than the sea, and exceeding even our most exalted thoughts and expressions. But there is one thing necessary on our part, and that is, _repentance_. Therefore, he calls upon all without distinction, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28. And, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together!" Matt. 23:37. "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." John 7:37. By these words of Holy Scripture, he continually invites every one to come to him that stands in need of mercy. How then canst thou imagine that He will forsake thee in the time of trouble, who endured so many and great miseries for thy sake! It is for this that G.o.d calls himself our _Father_. Now we know that a father is more compa.s.sionate and tender than a master: so that he would not have us dread him, but love him as a dutiful child does an indulgent father. When, therefore, any affliction befalls thee, receive it cheerfully, and remember that thy Father sends it to thee for good, and kiss the rod, and the hand that holds it. Consider the compa.s.sion of G.o.d as thy greatest security, the firm foundation of all thy hopes; firmly believing that thy heavenly Father will lay no more upon thee than he knows to be absolutely necessary for the salvation of thy soul.
6. _Fifthly_, we must call to mind the consolatory promise of our blessed Saviour, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." John 16:20. As a little seed is multiplied into a number of grains, so one affliction shall produce a large increase of spiritual joy and glory. "They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Ps. 126:5, 6. If G.o.d should promise to convert every pebble about thy house into a precious stone, thou wouldest quickly make a large collection, and highly value them. The case of crosses and afflictions is just the same. Learn to love them, yea, court them, knowing that G.o.d will a.s.suredly convert them into treasures of blessings, and spiritual joys; according to the words: "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Rom. 8:18.
7. The _sixth_ ground of comfort is found in the examples of the saints, none of whom were without their cross. Ask them one by one, and they will answer you, "Through much tribulation we entered into the kingdom of G.o.d."
Acts 14:22. Ask the elders in the Revelation, "Who are these?" and they will tell you, "These are they which came out of great tribulation." Rev.
7:14. Inquire of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David, Daniel, Elias, Job, and all the Prophets and Apostles; they will tell you that they drank deep of the bitter cup of affliction, which was to them "the cup of salvation." Ps. 116:13. If we consider only the holy martyrs, whose tortures and sufferings were terrible and affrighting, we shall find that nothing could seduce them from Christ. And what comparison is there between their crosses and our light afflictions, who "have not yet resisted unto blood"! Heb. 12:4. We cannot bear a trivial injury, or an affronting expression for Christ"s sake, for whom the blessed martyrs underwent the most ignominious deaths. One was beheaded, another roasted alive, a third crucified; some were drowned, some stoned, others hanged, others struck through with darts, others forced to walk barefooted upon red-hot plates of iron; the love of Christ so swallowing up all sense of pain, that they cried out that "they were walking upon roses."
8. The _seventh_ source of comfort is, the presence of G.o.d with us under the cross. G.o.d has nowhere declared that he dwells with the merry, but rather with the afflicted and sorrowful. "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Isa. 57:15. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy G.o.d; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.-When thou pa.s.sest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Isa. 41:10; 43:2.
"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name." Ps. 91:14. "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Ps. 34:18. It was the comforting presence of G.o.d that enabled the holy martyrs to bear up so boldly under the torments that were laid upon them, and to disregard their tormentors, as did particularly St.
Laurence and St. Vincent, the latter of whom, walking upon burning coals, told them, "he was walking upon fragrant roses." Babylas, the martyr, desired that the chain with which he was bound might be buried with him, that he might not be deprived of so great an ornament. Ignatius wished to be a grain of wheat, and to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that he might become clean bread unto his Saviour. These are such instances of courage and joyfulness as utterly exceed the powers of nature, and are only owing to the influences of that heavenly Comforter who supported St.
Stephen, and made his face shine before the council as it had been the face of an angel. Acts 6:15. And in this sense is that saying of the Psalmist verified, "Thy comforts delight my soul." Ps. 94:19.
Chapter XLVI.
Motives To Patience; And, The Benefits Of The Cross.
_Be patient, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain._-JAMES 5:7.
Patience is that virtue by which we behave ourselves quietly before G.o.d under any cross or tribulation, committing ourselves and all our concerns, whether temporal or eternal, without any reserve, to be governed and disposed of by the all-wise providence of G.o.d, entirely resigning all to his will: to the practice of which the following arguments strongly persuade us.
2. _First_, because every cross and calamity of life, as sword, famine, pestilence, and other punishments, proceed from G.o.d. Nothing happens in this world at random or by chance, though, by the permission of Providence, many evils are inflicted on us by the devil and his instruments. For thus saith the Lord: "I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I the Lord do all these things."
Isa. 45:7. And "The Lord killeth, and maketh alive; he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up." 1 Sam. 2:6. What canst thou reply to all this? Wilt thou be impatient, and fight against G.o.d?
3. _Secondly_, we must remember that our punishments are less than we deserve. Our sins are always greater than our punishments, and our sufferings less than our offences. Thou canst not but own that the mercies thou hast enjoyed, from thy youth up unto this day, are more and greater than the punishments thou hast suffered. Why then shouldest thou not, with profound submission, receive cheerfully the corrections which he inflicts for thy benefit, to save thee from destruction?
4. _Thirdly_, if we have in many ways provoked G.o.d, and deserved punishment, we must acknowledge with the prophet Daniel, that he is righteous in all that is brought upon us. Dan. 9:7. Is it unreasonable that G.o.d should punish thy sins, either in this world or the next? And if this be allowed, why dost thou not submit to the divine chastis.e.m.e.nts without murmuring or repining? For it is better to be punished now than hereafter, as St. Paul tells us: "When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." 1 Cor. 11:32.
Whosoever, therefore, is impatient, and murmurs against G.o.d, accuses him of injustice, and calls his righteousness in question; and yet "the Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." Ps. 145:17.
"Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments." Ps. 119:137.
5. _Fourthly_, doth it not discover a stubborn and untractable temper, to fly in the face of G.o.d, who has so long borne with, and still continues to bear with thee patiently, as St. Paul says, speaking of the goodness, patience, and long-suffering of G.o.d, by which he endeavors to draw us to repentance? See Rom. 2:4; 9:23; 11:33.
6. _Fifthly_, set before thine eyes the patience of thy Saviour. He who was spotless innocence and purity itself, though he could have destroyed his enemies in a moment, yet bore their utmost cruelties with patience, and prayed for his enemies. How much more reason then have we to be patient, who have deserved the greatest punishment, even eternal punishment. As Jacob served seven years for Rachel (Gen. 29:18), so Christ, for our sakes, submitted to the greatest miseries of life, for three and thirty years. And should we refuse to suffer a short affliction for his sake? Consider the patience of all the saints, as Joseph, and Moses, who offered to lay down his life for his people. Exod. 32:32. So David says, "If I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it (the ark) and his habitation; but if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him." 2 Sam. 15:25. Consider also the cases of Job, and the holy Apostles and Martyrs.
7. _Sixthly_, the remembrance of G.o.d"s great mercies should move us to patience. For, first of all, thou art a.s.sured, that by Christ thou art reconciled unto G.o.d, and that therefore no man can rob thee of this transcendent mercy, though the whole world should league together against thee: "for the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him." Ps. 103:17. What then can separate us from the love of G.o.d? Rom. 8:38, 39. Moreover, thou art redeemed by Christ unto everlasting life; a privilege which no creature can take from thee. Now, if the case be so, that the love of G.o.d and thy eternal salvation are firmly secured to thee; it will surely be easy for thee to despise the threats and a.s.saults of external enemies and persecutors, and, like the blessed martyrs of old, to be wholly regardless of what man can do unto thee.
8. The _seventh_ support of patience is found in the truth and promise of G.o.d. "Therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy on you: for the Lord is a G.o.d of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him." Isa. 30:18.
See also Ps. 25:3; Lam. 3:25. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life."
Jam. 1:12.
9. _Eighthly_, we ought to submit to anything for the sake of the glory of G.o.d. Thus the three men in the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:16, etc.); Daniel in the lions" den; Joseph in prison; David in banishment; all gave glory to G.o.d by their patient suffering.
10. _Ninthly_, for the sake of our own advantage. For, first, we learn many great and useful lessons under the discipline of the cross. "Patience worketh experience" (Rom. 5:4), saith St. Paul. Secondly, patience breaks the violence of our sufferings; upon which account our blessed Lord promises _rest_ to those that bear his yoke. Matt. 11:29. On the other hand, impatience disquiets the soul, adds grief to our trouble, and a sting to our wounds, and sometimes casts us into destruction both of body and soul; an instance of which we have in the Israelites, who, being impatient, and murmuring against G.o.d, were destroyed by fiery serpents in the wilderness. Num. 21:6.
11. _Tenth_, great is the reward of patience. So Job, having been despoiled of all his goods, was rewarded with a double portion. Job 42:10.
For, "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." Matt. 5:5.
And, by consequence, cursed are the impatient, for they shall be disinherited.
12. _Eleventh_, patience is a virtue of unspeakable advantage to all orders of men. In the Church it is a virtue which enables men to bear the opposition, contempt, and persecution to which they may be exposed by the conscientious discharge of their duty. In the State it is a useful virtue, enabling men to bear with patience the odium and reproach that generally attends public stations. For history informs us, that impatience, and a desire of revenge, have been the ruin of many flourishing states and kingdoms. As to the concerns of private families, how necessary patience is _there_, may be learned from everyone"s experience, particularly from those that have entered into the marriage-state; in which respect, these words of Solomon are applicable, "He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty." Prov. 16:32.
13. _Twelfth_, consider that Christ has taken out the sting of our afflictions, so that they cannot hurt us with regard to our eternal happiness; for by his cross and pa.s.sion he has made an atonement for our sins, and has taken away those punishments that were due to them. If then our cross be sanctified by the cross of Christ, and is to us a remedy against all our spiritual diseases, it follows that the cross itself is a help to salvation; which made the Apostle say, "All things work together for good to them that love G.o.d." Rom. 8:28.
14. _Lastly_, consider how light thy afflictions are when compared with "the glory that shall be revealed in us." Rom. 8:18. Upon which account the love of G.o.d is still more ill.u.s.trious, in that he is pleased to afflict us in this world. For the duration of a temporal affliction, if compared to eternity, is but for a moment; on the other hand, the joy that it produces lasts to eternity. Hence we ought to wish and pray for afflictions in this world, that we may have rest in the other. Therefore, St. Peter says: "Though now for a season ye are in heaviness;-yet ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." 1 Pet. 1:6, 8.
THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS.
15. The cross is the strait and narrow way leading to life,-a rod of divine correction, to awaken us from the sleep of sin and death,-the morning star that ushers in the sun of consolation,-a token of divine favor, like the rainbow. It brings us to a conformity with Christ,-strips us of the armor of darkness, and clothes us with the armor of light. It is a plant of life,-a cup of salvation,-a trial of faith,-the edification of our neighbor,-the parent of love,-a companion of hope,-a forerunner of grace,-a medicine of the soul,-a preservative against sin,-a destroyer of the carnal life,-a cherisher of the spiritual life,-a change of the earthly mind,-a forsaking of the world,-an increase of heavenly gifts,-a conqueror of pride,-a nurse of humility,-a teacher of patience,-a renewer of the spirit,-a strengthener of virtue,-a discipline of the body,-an enlivener of the mind,-a parent of wisdom,-a teacher of meekness,-an encourager of prayer,-a mistress of patience,-a guardian of chast.i.ty,-the peace of the conscience,-a source of inward joys,-a glittering jewel of the faithful,-the crown of the martyrs,-the glory of the elect.
Chapter XLVII.
Sentences, And Examples Of Patience And Consolation.
_We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of G.o.d._-ACTS 14:22.
As the life of a Christian consists of crosses and afflictions, through which he must enter into the kingdom of G.o.d; so he must arm himself with patience, and beg it earnestly of G.o.d. We must not think that we are born for pastime and diversion, but for many afflictions and trials of patience. And here we will consider three several arguments. The first shall contain some select sentences and testimonies of Scripture. The second, examples. And the third, encouragements.