Affliction Compared to the Winter

    AFFLICTION COMPARED TO THE WINTER

    "For lo, the Winter is past" &c., Song 2:11.

    SOME understand by Winter, the state of the elect before conversion; but others, in my judgment, upon better grounds, those cruel persecutions the Church of God shall be under during the reign of the tyrannical and antichristian powers of the earth: "The Winter is past, the rain is over and gone," &c. These things, saith Mr. Ainsworth, may be applied to the outward troubles and grievances of this life, by the malice of the world, as when Israel was brought into the bondage of Egypt, and of Babylon, and after was released: likewise to the spiritual Winter, reign, and rage of antichrist; after which the graces and fruits of the Gospel began again to flourish: it may also signify the Afflictions of the soul.

    PARALLELS.

    I. Winter is a time of cold, attended with snow, frost, storms, and sharp weather: so whilst the spiritual Winter of the Church continues, sharp and bitter storms of persecution frequently arise upon the godly.

    II. Winter, though it be sharp, yet it is a profitable and wholesome season of the year, in respect of the body of man, and fruits of the earth: so it is the spiritual Winter of the Church, or soul; the godly can no better be without adversity, than we can be without Winter.

    III. Winter-frosts, &c., kill the worms, weeds, and vermin: so do Afflictions, and the frosts of persecution, destroy the weeds of our corruption, and free the Church from carnal professors, who are like worms, and base vermin, that hinder the growth of God's choice grain.

    IV. In Winter it is a difficult and hard thing to travel some roads: so it is a difficult thing to travel in the way to heaven, i. e., to keep on in the path of Gospel holiness and obedience, in the day of persecution.

    V. In Winter many things look as if they were dead; trees, flowers, and plants have no beauty in them, they are not pleasant to the eye: so whilst the Winter-time of the Church continues, the blessed trees and plants of righteousness seem as if they were withered, and their beauty and glory gone, by means of the tyranny and oppression of the ungodly: but when the winter is past, and the longed-for spring beginneth to appear, they will sprout up, and flourish again gloriously.

    VI. In Winter we have now and then some good and comfortable weather: so now and then in the Winter-time of the Church, there is a sweet, serene, and calm time of peace and tranquillity: "Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multipled,"Ac 9:31.

    VII. The Winter makes the spring and summer much more acceptable and sweet: so the storms, tempests, cold frosts, and nipping time of trouble, oppression and persecution, will cause the golden age of the world, viz., the reign and kingdom of Christ, like the spring and summer, to seem much more sweet and acceptable to the saints, and all that fear God. This is signified by the singing of birds, &c. "They shall sing in the heights of Zion,"&c. "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing,"&c., Jer 31:12; Isa 35:1-2.

    VIII. In Winter, frosts, and cold pinching weather usually last not long; they are but for a season; a thaw will come: so the Afflicted state of a godly man, though it be unpleasant, yet it is not lasting, to be sure not everlasting. Though some frosts hold longer than others, yet none hold always; summer will come: and usually where Winter is fiercest, summer for a recompence is pleasantest. Our modern geographer,[1] having described the sharpness of Winter in Muscovia, concludes thus: "Such is their Winter, &c. Neither is their summer less miraculous; for the huge seas of ice, which in a manner covered the whole surface of the country, are at first approach of the sun suddenly dissolved, the waters dried up, and the earth dressed in her holy-day apparel; such, a mature growth of fruits, such flourishing of herbs, such, chirping of birds, as if it were a perpetual spring."Even thus, after a cold Winter of Affliction, shall the Church, or a particular soul be relieved by a sweet and comfortable summer of prosperity.

    [1] Heylin's Geography.

    INFERENCES.

    I. This may help the godly to bear up under Afflictions and sufferings in this world. What though they be pinching and troublesome whilst they last, yet they have a very good effect. Like as frost mellows the earth, and after it the clods crumble easily; whereas if there was no Winter, no frost, they would be more stiff, and not fit for the husbandman: so thy heart is hereby made mellow, and more meet and fit to receive the good seed. Frost dries up the ill humours of the earth; so do Afflictions those of the soul, &c. The Winter frosts kill the weeds and worms which eat the roots, and hinder the growth of herbs and corn; so Afflictions tend to kill our lusts, those weeds and worms, that breed and grow in our hearts always, hindering our fruitfulness in grace and true godliness.

    II. You know fire does well in Winter, to warm the blood, &c. So the fire of the Spirit will warm and heat thy soul in and under Afflictions and temptations; get therefore near it, and labour to experience its powerful operations. See the Word and Spirit compared to Fire.

    III. It may reprove such who are discontented under Afflictions; they would not be in such and such a troubled condition, &c. Alas! soul, will a wise man be angry and offended with the Winter? Wouldst thou have all summer and no Winter? all peace and prosperity, and no adversity! Consider how necessary Winter is.