Researched and prepared by Ruth Magnusson Davis
This post belongs to the series “Principal Matters from the 1537 Matthew Bible.” The purpose of the series is:
(1) To get to know the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible.
(2) To learn through bible studies from the Reformation.
“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the bible.”
So began John Rogers’ introduction to the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible. This Table was a concordance set at the front of the book which set out bible topics in alphabetical order. Under each topic were short headings with bible verses for further study. This Principal Matters Series follows the topics in the order of the Table. It also sets out the bible verses in full, taken from the Matthew Bible.
Topic: Affliction
(1) Affliction, after the manner of the scripture, is called heat, trial by fire, and a burning furnace.
1 Peter 4:12-13 Dearly beloveds, be not troubled in this heat that has now come among you to try you, as if some strange thing had happened to you. But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s passions, so that when his glory appears, you may be merry and glad.
Psalm 17:3 You have proved and visited my heart in the night season. You have tried me in the fire and have found no wickedness in me, for I utterly purposed that my mouth should not offend.
Psalm 66:10-12 For you, O God, have proved us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You have brought us into captivity, and laid trouble upon our loins. You have suffered men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you have brought us out and refreshed us.
(2) God threatens to send afflictions to those who have trust in any other than in him only. And therefore, he forgave the children of Israel when they forsook their idolatry.
Deuteronomy 31:16-17 And the Lord said to Moses, Behold, you must sleep with your fathers. But this people will go a-whoring after strange gods, the gods of the land into which they are going, and will forsake me and break the covenant that I have made with them. And then my wrath will wax hot against them, and I will forsake them and will hide my face from them,b and they shall be consumed. And when much adversity and tribulation is come upon them, then they will say, Because our God is not among us, these tribulations have come upon us.
Joshua 24:19-10 But Joshua said to the people, You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God, and cannot bear your transgression and sin. But when you have forsaken the Lord and have served strange gods, he will turn and do you evil and consume you, after he has done you good.
Judges 10:13-16 [The Lord said] you have forsaken me, and you serve strange gods. Therefore, I will help you no more. But go and cry to the gods that you have chosen, and let them save you in the time of your tribulation! But the children of Israel said to the Lord, We have sinned. Do with us whatever you please, only deliver us at this time. And they put away the strange gods from them and served the Lord. And the misery of Israel grieved his soul.
(3) We ought to succour those who are afflicted.
Ecclesiasticus 7:32-36 Reach out your hand to the poor, that God may bless you with abundance. Be liberal to all people living, yet let not but do good even to those that are dead. Let not those who weep be without comfort, but mourn with such as mourn. Let it not grieve you to visit the sick, for that will make you to be beloved. Whatever you take in hand, remember the end, and you will never do amiss.
~~End~~
Notices:
– New Testament Scriptures are from the October Testament, the New Testament of the New Matthew Bible. Old Testament Scriptures and Apocryphal writings are taken directly from the Matthew Bible, with obsolete English gently updated roughly as it will be in the complete New Matthew Bible.
– Click here for information about the New Matthew Bible Project, our project to gently update the 1537 Matthew Bible.
– Sample scriptures from the New Matthew Bible are here.
– To find former topics, go to the main blog page, and under the category “Principal Matters Series” look for the subcategory with the right letter. For example, for “Abrogation,” look under Principal Matters Series/Principal Matters A/Abrogation. (Also, a few topics are linked at the end.)
– Some of the recent posts in this series are 5 posts on the topic of adultery. The first post is here: Adultery 1