THe second Question is, what those evills be against which the faithfull ought to seeke consolation?

Ans. They are either corporall as the afflictions of this life and death, or spirituall, as spirituall temptations and sins.

The third Question is, by what arguments, a believer may be confirmed, and comforted against the afflictions of this life?

1. Ans. First, such kinde of afflictions are common to man, 1 Cor. 10. 13. And are wont to be accomplisht in believers while they live here, 1 Pet. 5. 9. Act. 14. 22.

2. Secondly, without Gods Providence not so much as a haire of our head shall perish, Mat. 10 30. Luk. 21. 18.

3. Thirdly, the fatherly love of God is wont to be manifest in the afflictions of the faithfull, Heb. 12. 6.

4. Fourthly, Christ himselfe hath suffered and overcome all the afflictions of the World, to the intent he might succor us, Heb. 4. 15.

5. Fifthly, God together with the temptation, will strenthen by the spirit, and make a way to escape, 1 Cor. 10. 13.

6. Sixthly, the time of affliction is but short, 2 Cor. 4. 17. 1 Pet. 5. 10.

7. Seventhly, the fruit of afflictions is saving. For every chastening yeildeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse, unto them that are exercised therewith, Heb. 12. 11.

The fourth Question is whether we are to comfort our selves after one sort in all afflictions?

8. Ans. There be diverse kinds of afflictions, so there be severall wayes of consolation. For some afflictions are brought upon us by men for righteousnesse sake, for the cause of Christ and his Gospell and Kingdome, Mat. 5. 10. & 11. Marke 10. 29. Luke 18. 29. These afflictions are commonly styled by the name of persecution, or the Crosse, because of the resemblance which they have to, and participation with the Crosse of Christ, Phil. 3. 10. In these kindes of afflictions, consolation is easy and at hand, for we ought even to account the afflictions of this nature, and for such a cause to be themselves an argument of great comfort, Mat. 5. 12. Acts 5. 14. Iames 1. 2. 1 Pet. 4. 14. 16. The reason is because in those persecutions which wee suffer for righteousnesse sake there is the nature of a testimony, m[gap]tyrdome, and example whereby we glorify God before men. And so out of the eater comes forth meat according to Sampsons riddle, Iud. 14.

9. Some afflictions are laid upon us by God to prove us, and to trie us, Exo. 15. 25. & 16. 5. Deut. 8. 2. 1[gap]. These are properly call'd tryalls and temptations. In these kinds of afflictions our consolation is not to be fetcht from the temptation it selfe, but from our manner of bearing is, when we through the grace of God in such a condition, do sanctify and glorify his Name, Iob. 1. 24. Our principall care therefore ought to be to frame and compose our selves to a right bearing of these afflictions, and the comfort will follow of its own accord.

10. Some afflictions are laid upon us, as punishments and corrections, Iob. 36. 9, 10. H[gap]. 12 6. For these although there be some comfort contain'd in Gods Fatherly manner of chastening, Heb. 1[gap]. 7, 8. Yet this comfort cannot [gap] solidly apprehended, but onely in making right use of the afflictions themselves, Ibid. 6. 11. Here therefore our first care must be to make right use of these visitations before we seeke after comfort.

11. These kind of afflictions are not so different but that they may meete together, in one, and the same trouble. For in persecution the faithfull are alwayes tried, sometimes corrected, but yet there may be trials and corrections often times without persecution, and when they do meet together some of these kinds may more appeare in some then others.

The first Question is what a man in afflictions ought to do to the end that he may obtaine true and solid comfort?

12. Ans. First, he ought to acknowledge the hand of God afflicting him, Esa. 26. 11. Iob. 5. 6. 8. Amos 3. 6. For this consideration is the foundation of patience, 1 Sam. 3. 18. Ps. 39. 10. And of all those saving truths, which are received by afflictions, Esa. 9. 13.

13. Secondly, he ought to search his wayes and acknowledge his sinnes, Lam. 3. 39, 40. Iob. 36 9, 10. For although all afflictions are not alwayes sent directly and principally for sinne, yet sinne is the fountaine, and foundation of all afflictions, Rom. 5. 1[gap]. It is therefore a course most equall, most safe, and most pleasing to God, that in our afflictions, we behold our sins, which either have directly procured them, or at least deserved them.

14. Thirdly, he ought to submit himselfe in the presence of God, and under his mighty hand, Iames 4. 10. 1 Pet. 5. 6. 2 Sam. 15. 20▪ Levit. 26. 41. Otherwise the chastening of God is contemned, and men shew their security and vaine confidence, Pro. 3. 11. Heb. 12. 5.

15. Fourthly, he ought by humble repentance to seeke the face, and favour and mercy of God. Psa. 57. 2. Lam. 3. 41. Amos 4. 12. Hos. 5. 15. & 6. 1 & 14. 2. There are three seasons wherin we ought to seeke God by repentance, 1. presently after sinne committed, 1 Cor. 5. 1. 2. 2. after some feare of punishment, or some threatning of God, Eph. 2. 1. 2. 3 After that the wrath of God hath in some sort broke in upon us Dan. 9. 13. Those Christians are the best which lay hold upon the first opportunity, for they declare that they do hate sinne simply for it selfe, those that make use of the second season come next to them. For such believe although they see not, but those that repent not in the third season are altogether desperate.

16. Fifthly, he ought to see that he profit by his affliction in all the parts of new obedience. 2 Cron. 28. 22. Esa. 26. 9. Iob. 36. 10. Hebrewes 12. 10. Esay 27. 11. Leviticus 26. 18. 21.—28.

17. Sixthly, he ought patiently to expect what end the Lord will make, 1 Cor. 10. 13. Iam. 5. 7. 8. 11. 2 Sam. 15. 25. Mica. 7. 9. He that seekes freedome by unlawfull meanes doth offend God more, 2 Kings 1. 3. Neither yet is he free but by an exchange of a lesse evill for a greater, Esa. 24. 18. Amos 5. 19.