The third meanes to worke patience , is the ioynt exercise of Faith , Hope , and a good Conscience . Hee that by 〈◊〉 . faith laies hold on the forgiuenesse of sin , and reconciliation with God by the bloud of Christ : And withall by the eye of hope entreth within the vayle , and beholdeth the glory prepared : This man shall bee able quietly , constantly , Heb. 6. 19. and patiently to indure all crosses , afflictions and tribulation , which God , the Deuill , and all the world can lay vpon him ; especially if hee ioyne vnto faith and hope a good conscience . For the cabbinet to lay vp , the jewells of faith and hope in , that they may stand vs in stead at euery assault , is a good conscience . Faith indeed first breeds a good conscience , and then a good conscience doth ( as it were ) nourish faith ; so that hee which stickes not to make shipwracke of a good conscience , will quickly fall away from faith , and then euery tribulation will make him impatient .

This threefold cord of faith , hope , and a good conscience , is that which heretofore hath kept the Saints and Martyrs constant and patient in all their afflictions . They were put vpon troubles and tribulation , intolerable inhumane iudgement ; yet were they more then conquerours through faith , hope , and a good conscience . Because they beleeued their sinnes were forgiuen , and in the course of sobrietie , righteousnesse and godlinesse , waited for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of their Sauiour Christ , nothing could dash them out of countenance .

Wouldest thou bee patient in tribulation ? then must thou doe as thou hearest the Saints haue done . Thou must first beleeue , according to the tenour of the Gospel , that thy sinnes are forgiuen , and withall consider what a wonderfull benefit this is ; then canst thou not chuse but be patient in any tribulation . It is most certaine , thou neuer didst truely esteeme the fauour of God in Christ ; thou didst neuer soundly ponder what an inestimable benefit the forgiuenesse of sins is , if thou canst not be contented therewith , and willing with patience to indure any tribulation which the Lord shall lay vpon thee . Moreouer , if thou hast respect vnto the recompence of reward , thou wilt esteem reproch , losse of Honor , wealth , friends , worldly contentment , greater treasure then all the commodities in the world .

Lastly , a good conscience is a strong supporter in all manner of tribulation ; did not the Heathen say , — Hic murus aheneus esto Nil conscire mali . —

It is a brazen wall against all assault to be guiltie of no sin .

What made Ioseph so patient in prison ? His conscience was not clogged with guilt : what made his brethren so much moued at the first touch ? They had euill consciences . Euen so any tribulation will make thee impatient , if thou hast not purged thy conscience from dead workes : but if thou resoluest in all things to walke honestly , whatsoeuer it cost thee , thou shalt be able to beare with a quiet mind whatsoeuer befall thee .

The fourth meanes to cause patience , is to set thy selfe 4. to indure hardnesse as a good Souldier of Iesus Christ , 2 Tim. 2. 3. It is good for a man to beare the yoake from his youth , Lament. 3. 27. Tribulation worketh patience , Rom. 5. 3.

The fifth meanes of patience , is to enter into serious 5. meditation concerning the ground , carriage , vse , and issue of all tribulation .

The principall meditations wherewith our hearts may 1. Medit. be taken vp , are foure . First , that all tribulation comes from God . Secondly , that in all tribulation he deales wisely and louingly . Thirdly , that he sends tribulation for some good end . Fourthly , that he is ready alwayes to afford helpe for the present , and to deliuer in fit season . All these well weighed are able to make vs patient in any tribulation . To speake to them seuerally .

First , That all our afflictions from the one end of our life vnto the other , both great and small , come vpon vs from God himselfe , is plaine by the constant confession of the Saints , and the euidence of Scripture . Iob sayes , Iob 1. 21. The Lord gaue , and the Lord hath taken away .

If yee read the Text , yee shall find that the Sabeaus took away his Oxen and Asses : the Chaldeans his Camels ; yet Iob makes this confession , The Lord hath taken away . Psalme 119. 75. Dauid saith to God , Thou hast afflicted mee ; yet we know it was Saul and his followers , and Shemei and Absolon , &c. that afflicted Dauid . So the Israelites say , Hos. 6. 1. Come let vs returne vnto the Lord : hee hath torne , hee hath smitten vs . Amos 3. 6. Shall there be euill in a City , and the Lord hath not done it ? Iob 5. 6. Affliction commeth not out of the dust , neither doth trouble spring out of the ground .

Here ye see it is a confessed truth , All tribulation comes from the Lord . Which being so , what fitter exhortation can I adde , then that Heb 12. 5. My sonne despise not the chastening of the Lord , nor faint when thou art rebuked of him , verse 9. Wee haue had fathers of our flesh which corrected vs , and wee gaue them reuerence , shall wee not much rather bee in subiection to the Father of Spirits ? Marke how Dauid in a great tribulation behaues himselfe , onely vpon this consideration , that it was the Lords doing , Psalm . 39. 9. I was dumbe , and opened not my mouth , because thou didst it . Here yee see Dauid professes hee was silent in affliction , because hee considered it was Gods doing . Nothing is more forcible to represse the violence of griefe in the day of trouble , then to call to mind that wee haue to doe , not with mortall men , but with the Almighty and euerliuing God . For how comes it to passe that the greater part of the world is ouertaken with impatience , when trouble lights vpon them ; but because they doe not recount , that they wrangle and brawle with God himselfe ? Therefore , whiles some cast their crosses and afflictions vpon fortune , some impute them to the malice or cruelty of this or that man , some ascribe them to one cause , and some vnto another , and scarce one of an hundred absolutely acknowledges Gods hand ; they freely fall to grieue , complaine , fret and murmure without measure .

But Dauid cleane contrary , that hee may silence all rebellious motions , turnes his eye to the Lord , and considering him in his wise prouidence , as the author of all his trouble , resolues to bee silent and put it vp with a quiet mind . And so accordingly let vs know , that in any affliction that befalls vs at any time , this is the principall worke of faith , to humble vs vnder Gods hand , and make vs rest in his doing with silence , as Saint Peter counsells , Ch. 1. 5. 6. Humble your selues vnder the mightie hand of God .

Besides ( as Caluine notes ) which is the second Meditation , 2. Medit. it must be obserued that men do then subiect themselues , to God in tribulation with quiet and patient mindes , when they are perswaded that , as God doth all , so he doth it as a wise Iudge and louing Father . For many wicked men in tribulation acknowledge Gods hand ; yet because they reckon of him as a cruell Tyrant , they cease not through impatience to blaspheme his holy name . But Dauid doth so acknowledge Gods iudgements vpon himselfe , that hee takes them as from the hand of a wise God , and louing Father ; and therefore rests well pleased and patient whatsoeuer he doth , saying , I was dumbe , I opened not my mouth , because thou , O Lord , didst it : Thou , I say , which , as thou art the Almightie God , so thou art also wise , louing , and tender Father vnto mee .

Euen so , if we , when we are cast into the bed of sorrow , and furnace of tribulation , would seriously meditate vpon the wisdome and loue of the great God ( from whose hand we say we take the visitation ) assuredly we should possesse our soules in patience .

A man that is perswaded of the loue and skill of a Physician or Chirurgeon , which is but a man like himselfe and may be false , or deceiued ; will put himselfe into his hand most readily , and be content to be launched and se 〈…〉 , or to take downe bitter pills and fulsome potions , and to doe or suffer any thing according to his direction , in hope of bodily health . How much more would wee bee patient in any tribulation , if we were thoroughly perswaded , that our God ( without whose prouidence one haire falls not from our head ) did administer these bitter things vnto vs , in wonderfull wisdome and great loue to our soules ? This made Dauid so patient , Psal. 119. 75. I know O Lord ( saith hee ) that thy iudgements are right , and that thou in faithfulnesse hast afflicted me . Therefore was he so quiet ; and when his spirit began to lash out in a kind of discontented humour , because Gods hand was vpon him so heauy and so long : marke how hee checks himselfe , saying , Psal. 42. 11. Why art thou cast downe , O my soule , and why art thou disquicted within mee ? Hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise him , who is the health of my countenance and my God . Here note , I pray you , what the ground of Dauids patience in his tribulation , when his enemies reproched him , saying , Where is thy God ? it was this , hee was fully perswaded that God was his God , that is to say , his wise Guardian , his mightie Protector , his louing father , and that hee did all that hee did to him most wisely , most louingly , with respect vnto the amendment of his life , and the saluation of his soule . Euen so , if we also would beleeue Gods Word , which tels vs , that God as often as hee suffers any tribulation to fall vpon vs ; in wisdome , loue , and faithfulnesse causes vs to bee afflicted , we would be quiet vnder his mightie hand ; yea , wee would solace our soules with the peaceable fruit of affliction in the end . This made Saint Paul say in the name of all beleeuers , Rom. 5. 3. Wee glory in tribulations . This made Dauid say long before , Psal. 94. 19. In the multitude of my sorrowfull thoughts within mee , thy comforts delight my snule . Where note , hee saith not , when my tribulations and sorrowes are ouer , but euen in the middest of the multitude of them , I feele sound spirituall comfort , because I know that thou art the onely wise God , and my mercifull Sauiour and Redeemer , which bringest all these things vpon mee . Thou diddest cause Saul to persecute mee , and mine own sonne Absolon to rise vp against mee ; Thou baddest Shemei to curse mee , and many others to reproach and reuile me ; Thou hast often cast mee vpon the bed of sicknesse ; thou , I say , which art the only wise God , and my louing Sauiour , didst all these things ; therefore I am so farre from fretting , that I find comfort , euen whiles I See more in the treatise of faith . am exercised vnder thy hand .

The like comfort will arise vnto any one of vs , in any trouble or tribulation , vpon the like consideration ; to wit , that God ( who is the author of all afflictions ) sends them vpon vs , in singular wisdome and loue for our good : which that it may make the deeper impression , I wil come to the third Meditation ; which is , touching the speciall 3. Medit. ends for which God doth suffer tribulation to fall vpon vs . The ends are three . First , Gods owne glory . Secondly , The example of others . Thirdly , Our owne speciall good ; vpon which I will chiefly insist .

First , One way whereby God is said to be glorified in his Saints , is when they patiently suffer tribulation for his names sake . Thus did the Martyrs glorifie God , whiles they cheerefully suffered for the truth .

The second end , is the example of others . Therefore doth God bring strong Christians to bee tried by afflictions , that they which are weake ( seeing their patience and constancy ) may bee encouraged to bee quiet in the day of triall .

The third end is for our owne good , and that foure wayes . First , To try vs . Secondly , To purge vs . Thirdly , To quicken vs . Fourthly . To heape more glory vpon vs . That for these foure ends God sends tribulation vpon vs , it is euident by Scripture . For the first end , which is triall , it is said , 1 Pet. 4. 12. Beloued , thinke it not strange concerning the fiery tryall , which is to try you , as though some strange thing happened vnto you ; But reioyce , &c. Deut. 8. 2. 3. Moses saith to the people of Israel , The Lord led thee these forty yeeres in the Wildernesse , to humble thee , and to proue thee , to know what was in thy heart , whether thou wouldest keepe his commandements , or no.

Quest. But did not God sufficiently know them without this kind of tryall .

Answ. Yes surely : for as Dauid saith , Psal. 139. 2. He vnderstands our thoughts a farre off . But wee know not our selues , before we be tried by some tribulation . Some think they are strong , and that nothing can disquiet them ; but when God laies his hand vpon them , they are troubled aboue measure . Others thinke they haue no strength , that they shall not bee able to stand in the euill day , and therefore grow exceeding sad : But when they are brought to the lists , they are found stronger then many which made great boast .

Againe , the world is prone to censure all that labour to liue godly in Christ as hypocrites , as Satan said of Iob. Therefore the Lord , to cleere his children of this grieuous imputation , tries them with afflictions , that their vprightnesse may shine out , as Iobs did .

The second benefit of tribulation is purging our soules , Esay 1. 25. God saith to his Church ; I will turne my hand vpon thee , and purely purge away thy drosse . Esay 27. 7. Hath hee smote Israel , as he smote those that smote him ? Answ. Verse 9. By this shall the iniquitie of Iacob bee purged , and this is all the fruit , to take away his sinne . Here the Spirit declares the different ends , for which God strikes his children , and the wicked ; The wicked he strikes to destroy them : His children hee strikes too , but it is to purge away their sinne . So againe , God sayes of some of the Israelites , Zach. 13. 9. I will refine them as siluer , and will try them as gold . When these mettalls are cast into the fire , the drosse onely is consumed , they came out more pure . So Gods children , when they are cast into the furnace of affliction , come out more pure . Thus was Dauid purged by affliction , as he confesseth , Psal. 119. Nay one of the most notorious sinners that euer was , Manasses , was purged by tribulation , 2 Chronicles 33. 12. When hee was in affliction hee besought the Lord , and humbled himselfe greatly before the God of his Fathers , and when hee was brought to Ierusalem into his Kingdome , hee tooke away the strange God , and repaired the Altar of the Lord , and sacrificed thereon peace-offerings and thank-offerings , and commanded Iudah to serue the Lord : what an alteration is here wrought by tribulation ? The like effect it hath in euery one in whom God hath any portion . Neither hath any man almost from the beginning beene soundly turned from his sinfull wayes , but by some affliction of body or mind . Aske your owne consciences , yee that are truely conuerted , whether your conuersion were not occasioned by tribulation .

The third end of tribulation , is to quicken all Sauing graces in vs , Psal. 119. 72. Dauid saith , It is good for mee that I haue bin afflicted , that I might learn thy statutes : why , but did not Dauid know Gods Statutes before ? Yes : but by affliction hee was put in mind to walke the way of the Lord more diligently . Affliction made him more frequent and earnest in prayer : Affliction made him put his trust in God more confidently : Affliction made him more watchfull ouer his owne wayes , and more carefull to keepe them in compasse which were committed to his charge : Affliction made him more compassionate towards others that were in any tribulation : Affliction made him more humble . In a word , by affliction , God did so frame and fashion him that he made him a man after his owne heart ; therefore well may he say , as hee doth ; It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted . The like good end doth God ayme at when hee afflicts any of vs , as it is plainely declared , Hebrewes 12. 10. Hee chastens vs for our profit , that wee may bee made partakers of his holinesse .

The fourth end of our tribulation is , that wee may bee the more glorified in heauen . Rom. 8. 17. If wee suffer with Christ , we shall be glorified together , 1 Pet. 1. 7. The tryall of our faith , thogh it be tried with fire , shal be found vnto praise , and honour , and glory , at the appearing of Iesus Christ .

Thus yee see how many excellent ends of tribulation the Lord propounds , which being duly considered , are able to make vs not onely patient in any tribulation , but also joyfull and thankfull . I cannot omit what S. Augustine sayes of tribulation , hauing respect only vnto the last end , to wit , the multiplying of our glory according to the measure of our tribulation . His words bee these : That I may after this languishing life see Christ in glory , and be partaker of so great a good ; what though sicknesse weakens me , labours oppresse me , watchings spend me , cold benumne me , heat inflame me ? Nay , though my whole life be spent in sighes and sorrowes ; what is all to that rest which shall insue in the life to come ? Why Non est ad astra mallis é terris via . Senec. doe wee complaine of want of rest seeing wee haue vndertaken a iourney wearisome and troublesome ? Besides , there is no other way to heauen ; as Christ was ordained first to suffer tribulation , and then to enter into his Glory , Luke 24. 26. So all that are Christs are appointed to afflictions , 1 Thess. 3. 3. Againe , Rom. 8. 29. Whom God did fore-know , he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Sonne , that is , Not onely in regard of holinesse , but also of tribulation : For the seruant is not greater then the Lord ; If they haue persecuted mee , they will persecute you also , saith Christ , Ioh. 5. 20. And yet againe , Luke 9. 23. Whosoeuer will come after mee , must take vp his crosse dayly . Now no man can bee said to take vp his crosse , but he that is patient in tribulation . The crosse of it selfe is not the way to the Crowne ; but the patient bearing of the Crosse. Saint Paul sayes fitly , If a man striue for masteries , he is not crowned , except he striue lawfully , 2 Tim. 2. 5. Wherefore , if we desire the ioyes of the Kingdome of Heauen , let vs be content to walke patiently without murmuring and fretting , through the stony lane of tribulation . The Israelites liked the Land of Canaan very well , but when they felt hardship in the Wildernesse , they murmured , and the Prophet sayes , They prouoked the Lord , and he slew them by thousands . If we commit the like sinne , how shall wee escape the like iudgement ? when Dauid sent Embassadours to the King of Ammon , to comfort him after his Fathers death , he euill intreated them , and Dauid was exceeding angry . Behold afflictions are the Lords Embassadours , which hee sends vnto vs for many good ends ; wherefore if wee grudge and repine , if we mourne without measure , and fret and chafe at them , surely wee shall greatly prouoke the Lords indignation against vs .

Let vs therefore hearing these things , be perswaded to be patient in all manner of tribulation , the rather , because God hath promised to bee with vs in all trouble , and to help vs to beare it , and in very good time to deliuer vs out of all our tribulation . This is the fourth Meditation . The 4. Medit. first clause whereof ; viz. That God will bee with vs , and helpe vs in trouble , may be proued : First , By the promises out of Gods Word : Secondly , By examples , instances , and experience . The Scripture is full of promises of Gods comfortable presence ; I will cite onely that of Esa. 43. 1. Thus saith the Lord , feare not , for I haue redeemed thee , and when thou passest through the waters I will bee with thee : when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt : For I am the Lord thy God , the Holy One of Israel , thy Sauiour . Feare not , for I am with thee . Here , by fire and water we may vnderstand all manner of tribulation into which Gods children fall : In all which the Lord promises to be with them ; and how can they miscarry with whom the Almightie is ?

But perhaps some wil say , This is indeed a large & gracious promise ; but it was made only to the people of Israel .

Answ. Paul speaking to the Romans , which were Gentiles , as well as wee , saith , Rom. 15. 4. Whatsoeuer things were written aforetime , were written for our learning , that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might haue hope . More plainely , Heb. 13. 5. the Spirit teacheth euery one to apply vnto himselfe that promise which was made onely to Ioshua , I will not leaue thee , nor forsake thee : wherby it is sure , 2 Sam. 10. that what promise soeuer thou findest in all the Scripture made to a beleeuer , thou ( if thou beleeuest ) hast as good interest in it , as he to whom it was made . Wherefore , when thou fallest into any tribulation , comfort thy selfe with the promise of Gods presence ; because he saith , I will not leaue thee . Neither hath God onely promised his presence , Iosh. 1. but also afforded it vnto his children . Esay 63. 9. It is said of Gods people , In all their affliction , he was afflicted , and the Angel of his presence saued them ; In his loue and in his pittie hee redeemed them , and hee bare them , and carried them all the dayes of old . More particularly , how often doth Dauid say , That God was with him in the needfull time of trouble , and that he was his rock , his fortresse , his refuge , his strong helpe , that hee deliuered him out of all his troubles : and Psa. 23. 4. he makes this comfortable profession , Though I walke through the valley of the shadow of death , I will feare no euill : for thou art with me . Not to multiply examples ; how confidently doth Saint Paul say in the name of all beleeuers , 2 Cor. 1. 3 , 4. Blessed be God , euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ , the Father of mercies , and the God of all comfort , who comforteth vs in all our tribulation : Againe , verse 5. As the sufferings of Christ abound in vs ; so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ . Russinus lib. 1. cap. 36. brings an excellent example of God presence in affliction . One Theodorus was , for the profession of the Christian Faith , wracked and tortured about two or three houres most cruelly ; yet neuerthelesse that godly man was all the while ioyful , and cheerefully sang Psalmes vnto God . After hee was let loose , some of his friends asked him whether he felt no paine vpon the racke : Hee said , some small paine he felt ; but there was with him a faire young man , as hee seemed , who still wiped the sweat from his face , and refreshing him as it were with coole water , caused that hee felt lesse paine then when he was let downe . All that are in tribulation now adayes , doe not behold the presence of the Lord , as Theodorus did ; but all that beleeue are partakers of the Lords spirituall presence , whereby he inables them to doe or suffer any thing , according to that , Phil. 4. 13. I am able to doe all things , thorough Christ Iesus that strengtheneth mee . Vpon which word Bernard wel notes , that man by Nature impotent , by Grace is made omnipotent : verily , hee that beleeues is made able to doe or suffer any thing . For all things are possible to him that beleeueth , Mar. 9. 23. And no maruell ; for Faith drawes whom the Lord of Life and Glory , and makes him present in euery place , in euery affliction , and how can there want comfort in his presence , where is fulnesse of ioy for euer ? It was the perswasion or spirituall sight of this presence of the Lord , that helped the Saints in all their tribulation . This made Moses , not feare the Kings wrath , Heb. 11. 27. Hee indured , as seeing him who is inuisible . This supported Dauid when hee was in his enemies Countrey , and his owne men spake of stoning him . 1 Sam. 30. 6. What was it but the presence of the Lord , that strengthened both the three children before the fiery furnace , and Daniel in the Lions den ? This made Peter sleep sweetly in prison the night before hee should bee slaine , Acts 12. This made Stephen speake boldly to his fierce enemies , Asts 7. This made Paul and Silas sing Psalmes in prison at midnight , Acts 16. This made many beleeuers , which were tried by mockings , scourgings , and wrackings , despise the paine and the shame , Heb. 11. In like manner , if wee could perswade our selues that the Lord , according to his gracious promise , is with vs in all our tribulation , it would make vs quiet , and strongly comfort vs . O the ioy of the Lords presence , is able to bring mighty things to passe : what cannot he doe , and turne to our good ; which called light out of darknes , & made all things of nothing ; if we would but giue glory to his Word , which sayes , Hee is with vs in trouble , and alwaies at hand to helpe vs in all our tribulation . Feare not , for I am with thee , saith the Lord to euery one that is in trouble . Esay 43. 1.