will give a man a quiet and peaceable possession of his own soul: 'In
Luther found this by experience when he said, I am without set upon
by all the world, and within by the devil and all his angels. Satan is a
coward, and loves to strike us and trample upon us when afflictions
have cast us down. When besieged towns, cities, and castles are in
greatest straits and troubles, then the besiegers make their fiercest
assaults; so when Christians are under the greatest straits and trials,
then Satan assaults them most, like a roaring lion. Now, silence
under afflictions is the best antidote and preservative against all
those temptations that afflictions lay us open to. Silence in afflictions
is a Christian's armour of proof; it is that shield that no spear or dart
of temptation can pierce. Whilst a Christian lies under the rod, he is
safe. Satan may tempt him, but he will not conquer him; he may
assault him, but he cannot vanquish him. Satan may entice him to
use sinful shifts to shift himself out of trouble; but he will choose
rather to lie, yea, die, in trouble, than get out upon Satan's terms.
But,
9. Ninthly, Consider, That holy silence under afflictions and trials
will give a man a quiet and peaceable possession of his own soul: 'In
patience possess your souls,' Luke 21:19. Now, next to the possession
of God, the possession of a man's own soul is the greatest mercy in
this world. A man may possess honours, and riches, and dear
relations, and the favour and assistance of friends under his trials,
but he will never come to a possession of his own soul under his
troubles till he comes to be mute, and to lay his hand upon his
mouth. Now what are all earthly possessions to the possession of a
man's own soul? He that possesseth himself possesseth all; he that