Verfe 14. PROVERBS. Ifnece ties , if diftrefeî, ifgripes, if prifins, if tumults , had benc of force tomake a faithful' man to fall , theApoflle Paul would not haue bone able to Band foconflantlie as licedid ; for all thefe hce patientlie fuffered, for the honour ofhis mini- aerie. And though Dauids calamities , by the rapes, incefls, murders, andrebellions, committed in his owne famine ,and cucnby his owneChildren, were as gricuousand painefull, as broken bones : yetwhenhis foule did feeleGods fauourand goadnetfetowards him, hec was not out of hope to recou:r a- gaine his former comfort and ioyfulncs. This might be further exemplified bykb , by Jacob , and manicothers , efpeciallie thofe worthic martyrs , whomc the Apoflle propoCeth for examples to the Hebrews , who were tryed by mockinges andfcourgings : yea more-osier, by bond.-sand prifonment. They woreftoned , theywere hewn afsinder they were tempted , they were flaine with the'word , they wandere 'up and down in£Beeper-sk nnei, andingoatcs- .r,finnes, being deflitste,afi- lied, and tormented. Fir i , being iuflified by faith, and at peacewith God , their faith and power doth obtains a diuine power from God, and that cauleth heauie burthcns tobeborne, as though theywere light,andbitter potions tobe fwalloweddownc,as though they werefweete and pleafant. Secondly, they looke to theend which the LordBothaime at in all their tribulations, and that istheir profite : and theef- fe&that will enfue therevponat the laG,and that is their eter- nal! bletfedces. In flr.union forthem that (Care God , not Co much to fore.. feare oftdions and troubles,as if theweight and loadeof the famewould cruth them topieces. Whatfoeuer canbefall anie godly man, depending on the goodnes ofGod, touching his health, tlare,fafetie,friendes, orany thing that doth external- lie concerne him, is buta tollerable infirm itie,as Daurd found at Ziilag , when his goods were gone , his Cíttie brent, his wiues taken capriucs, togetherwith his Children, his friendes become hisfoes, and his life in imminent danger: for they wereabouttu Lionehim,andyet in all this cxtremitic,he isfaid to Pial.ft,'
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