that of our
apostle, "God chastiseth them whom he loveth: they that sow in tears, shall
reap in joy," Psal. cxxvi. 6. "As the furnace proveth the potter's vessel,
so doth temptation try men's thoughts," Eccl. xxv. 5, 'tis for [3590]thy
good, _Periisses nisi periisses_: hadst thou not been so visited, thou
hadst been utterly undone: "as gold in the fire," so men are tried in
adversity. _Tribulatio ditut_: and which Camerarius hath well shadowed in
an emblem of a thresher and corn,

"Si tritura absit paleis sunt abdita grana,
Nos crux mundanis separat a paleis:"

"As threshing separates from straw the corn,
By crosses from the world's chaff are we born."

'Tis the very same which [3591]Chrysostom comments, _hom. 2. in 3 Mat._
"Corn is not separated but by threshing, nor men from worldly impediments
but by tribulation." 'Tis that which [3592]Cyprian ingeminates, _Ser. 4. de
immort._ 'Tis that which [3593]Hierom, which all the fathers inculcate, "so
we are catechised for eternity." 'Tis that which the proverb insinuates.
_Nocumentum documentum_; 'tis that which all the world rings in our ears.
_Deus unicum habet filium sine peccato, nullum sine flagello_: God, saith
[3594]Austin, hath one son without sin, none without correction. [3595]"An
expert seaman is tried in a tempest, a runner in a race, a captain in a
battle, a valiant man in adversity, a Christian in tentation and misery."
_Basil, hom. 8._ We are sent as so many soldiers into this world, to strive
with it, the flesh, the devil; our life is a warfare, and who knows it not?
[3596]_Non est ad astra mollis e terris via_: [3597]"and therefore
peradventure this world here is made troublesome unto us," that, as Gregory
notes, "we should not be delighted by the way, and forget whither we are
going."

[3598] "Ite nunc fortes, ubi celsa magni
Ducit exempli via, cur inertis
Terga nudatis? superata tellus
Sidera donat."

Go on then merrily to heaven. If the way be troublesome, and you in misery,
in many grievances: on the other side you have many pleasant sports,
objects, sweet smells, delightsome tastes, music, meats, herbs, flowers,
&c. to recreate your senses. Or put case thou art now forsaken of the
world, dejected, contemned, yet comfort thyself, as it was said to Agar in
the wilderness, [3599]"God sees thee, he takes notice of thee:" there is a
God above that can vindicate thy cause, that can relieve t