by Richard Baxter
To show the reasonableness of present afflictions, consider, — they are the way to everlasting rest, — they keep us from mistaking our rest, — and from losing our way to it, — they quicken our pace towards it, — they chiefly incommode our flesh, — and under them God’s people have often the sweetest foretastes of their rest.
1. Consider, that labour and trouble are the common way to rest, both in the course of nature and of grace.
Can there possibly be rest without weariness? Do you not travail and toil first, and rest afterwards? The day for labour is first, and then follows the night for rest. Why should we desire the course of grace to be perverted, any more than the course of nature? It is an established decree, “that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God,” Acts, 14: 22. And that “if we suffer, we shall also reign with Christ,” 2 Tim. 2: 12. And what are we, that God’s statutes should be reversed for our pleasure?
2. Afflictions are exceedingly useful to us, to keep us from mistaking our rest.
A Christian’s motion towards heaven is voluntary, and not constrained. Those means, therefore, are most profitable, which help his understanding and will. The most dangerous mistake of our souls is, to take the creature for God, and earth for heaven. What warm, affectionate, eager thoughts have we of the world, till afflictions cool and moderate them! Afflictions speak convincingly, and will be heard when preachers cannot. Many a poor Christian is sometimes bending his thoughts to wealth, or flesh-pleasing, or applause; and so loses his relish of Christ, and the joy above, till God break in upon his riches, or children, or conscience, or health, and break down his mountain which he thought so strong. And then, when he lieth in Manasseh’s fetters, or is fastened to his bed with pining sickness, the world is nothing, and heaven is something. If our dear Lord did not put these thorns under our head, we should sleep out our lives, and lose our glory.
3. Afflictions are also God’s most effectual means to keep us from losing our way to our rest.
Without this hedge of thorns, on the right hand and on the left, we should hardly keep the way to heaven. If there be but one gap open, how ready are we to find it, and turn out at it? When we grow wanton, or worldly, or proud, how doth sickness, or other affliction, reduce us! Every Christian, as well as Luther, may call affliction one of his best schoolmasters; and with David may say, “Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now have I kept thy word,” Ps. 119: 67. Many thousand recovered sinners may cry, “O healthful sickness! O comfortable sorrows! O gainful losses! O enriching poverty! O blessed day, that ever I was afflicted!” Not only the green pastures, and still waters, but the rod and staff, they comfort us. Though the word and Spirit do the main work, yet suffering so unbolts the door of our heart, that the word hath easier entrance.
4. Afflictions likewise serve to quicken our pace in the way to our rest.
It were well if mere love would prevail with us, and that we were rather drawn to heaven, than driven. But seeing our hearts are so bad, that mercy will not do it; it is better to be put on with the sharpest scourge, than loiter, like the foolish virgins, till the door is shut. Oh what difference is there, betwixt our prayers in health and in sickness; betwixt our repentings in prosperity and adversity! Alas! if we did not sometimes feel the spur, what a slow pace would most of us hold toward heaven! Since our vile natures require it, why should we be unwilling that God should do us good by sharp means? Judge, Christian, whether thou dost not go more watchfully and speedily in the way to heaven, in thy sufferings, than in thy more pleasing and prosperous state.
5. Consider further, it is but the flesh that is chiefly troubled and grieved by afflictions.
In most of our sufferings the soul is free, unless we ourselves wilfully afflict it. Why, then, O my soul, dost thou side with this flesh, and complain as it complaineth? It should be thy work to keep it under, and bring it into subjection; and if God do it for thee, shouldst thou be discontented? Hath not the pleasing of it been the cause of almost all thy spiritual sorrows? Why, then, may not the displeasing of it further thy joys? Must Paul and Silas not sing, because their feet are in the stocks? Their spirits were not imprisoned. Ah, unworthy soul! is this thy thanks to God for preferring thee so far before thy body? When it is rotting in the grave, thou shalt be a companion of the perfected spirits of the just. In the meantime, hast thou not consolation, which the flesh knows not of? Murmur not, then, at God’s dealings with thy body; if it were for want of love to thee, he would not have dealt so by all his saints. Never expect thy flesh should truly expound the meaning of the rod. It will call love, hatred; and say, God is destroying, when he is saving. It is the suffering party, and therefore not fit to be the judge. Could we once believe God, and judge of his dealings by his word, and by their usefulness to our souls, and reference to our rest, and could we stop our ears against all the clamours of the flesh, then we should have a truer judgment of our afflictions.
6. Once more consider, God seldom gives his people so sweet a foretaste of their future rest, as in their deep afflictions.
He keeps his most precious cordials for the time of our greatest faintings and dangers. He gives them, when he knows they are needed, and will be valued; and when he is sure to be thanked for them, and his people rejoiced by them. Especially when our sufferings are more directly for his cause, then he seldom fails to sweeten the bitter cup. The martyrs have possessed the highest joys. When did Christ preach such comforts to his disciples, as when their hearts were sorrowful at his departure? When did he appear among them, and say, Peace be unto you, but when they were shut up for fear of the Jews? When did Stephen see heaven opened, but when he was giving up his life for the testimony of Jesus? Is not that our best state, wherein we have most of God? Why else do we desire to come to heaven? If we look for a heaven of fleshly delights, we shall find ourselves mistaken. Conclude, then, that affliction is not so bad a state for a saint, in his way to rest. Are we wiser than God? Doth he not know what is good for us as well as we? Or is he not as careful of our good, as we of our own? Woe to us, if he were not much more so! and if he did not love us better than we love either him or ourselves!
Say not, “I could bear any other afflictions but this.” If God had afflicted thee where thou canst bear it, thy idol would neither have been discovered nor removed. Neither say, “If God would deliver me out of it, I could be content to bear it.” Is it nothing that he hath promised it shall work for thy good? Is it not enough that thou art sure to be delivered at death? Nor let it be said, “If my affliction did not disable me for duty, I could bear it.” It doth not disable thee for that duty which tendeth to thy own personal benefit, but is the greatest quickening help thou canst expect. As for thy duty to others, it is not thy duty when God disables thee. Perhaps thou wilt say, “The godly are my afflicters: if it were ungodly men, I could easily bear it.” Whoever is the instrument, the affliction is from God, and the deserving cause thyself; and is it not better to look more to God and thyself? Didst thou not know that the best men are still sinful in part? Do not plead, “If I had but that consolation, which you say God reserveth for suffering times, I should suffer more contentedly, but I do not perceive any such thing.” The more you suffer for righteousness’ sake, the more of this blessing you may expect: and the more you suffer for your own evil doing, the longer it will be before that sweetness comes. Are not the comforts you desire neglected or resisted? Have your afflictions wrought kindly with you, and fitted you for comfort? Have they humbled you? Have they brought you to a faithful confession, and reformation of your beloved sin, and made you sit close to your neglected duties? Have they weaned your hearts from their former idols, and brought them unfeignedly to take God for their portion and their rest? If this is not done, how can you expect comfort? Should God bind up the sore while it festers at the bottom? It is not mere suffering, that prepares you for comfort, but the success and fruit of sufferings upon your hearts.