16 ' C H A P.$. eon Expo /ition upon thefecond V E R. 4. perfwafion of Gods loue, or confidence in his mercie. Tribulations and perfecutions force thus difiinguifh. `Perfecutions they conceive, Troubles, which the body of the Church endured. Tribulations, the perfonallgrieuan- ces of particulars amongff them. a Mat.ç.io, Thus rather I conceiue : Perfecutions, to be 2 troubles or affiiaions for righteou/ ne fe fake. Trìbulations,any crof- fes whatfoeucr,whether mediately or immediately inflióI- ed of God : as chaflifements, trials, preuentions, &c. A6- folons infurreaion, Shimei his railing, were Davids tribu- lations, not his perfecutions : that, ifí'uing out of e_4bfo- Ions ambition of the Kingdorre; this, from Shimei his zeale for the houle of Saul : other differences you may conceiue in meditation,guided by the Apoflle,Rom.S.35, The vertues commended ,ate their Tatience,axd Faith ; two of the moll comfortable fupporterr vnder the Crofe: and no where more commendably exercifed, then in null- ' lob t.zz. tiplicitie of affliáIions. b In all this did not lob fn with hit mouth, nor charge Godfoolifhly : the encomium of his pa- `lob tg,rs, tience. Though hel¿llmee, e yet I will trufiz in him: the d Pfal 39,z, pratife of his faith. d I was dumbe and opened not my mouth,hecaufe thou Lord didfl it : The profefiion of pati- ence . Irvill yet true to fee thegeodnefe of the Lord its the landofthe lifting: the praélife ofvnconquerable faith. Its commendable and comfortable,when Grace beares vp it felfe againff oppofition, that argues it fubtiantiall and vigorous. Doefl thou yet continue in thine vpright- nefe? the fpeech in the vtterers intention feemingly of exprobration: the thing to me feemes matter of admi- ration. r. Its true, Affli} ions are the matter, the caufafine qua e Rom,s.3. non of patience ; wherefore they are faid to e worke. Yet confidering our eafefull nature, tend they not to exafpe- rate againff prouidence ? weighing intention of inffru- ments inflicting, are they nothent a to ouerthrow it ? efpe- Iob nu r. cially when, as billowes in the Sea, they come one in the necke of another; what patience,except fupernaturall,can beare vp vnder them ? 2. Beliefe
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