TO BE EXPECTED ON EAR,TI-I. 479 us. Though the Word and Spirit do the main work, yet suffering so unbolts the door of the heart, that the word bath easier entrance. § 6. (4) Afflictions likewise serve to quicken our paces 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. O what a difference is there betwixt our prayers in health and in sickness ! betwixt our repentings in prosperity and adversity ! Alas, if we did not some- times 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. § 7. 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 cotn- plaineth ? It should' thy work to keep it, under, and bring it into subjection ; and if God do it for thee, shouldest thou be discontented? Math not the pleasing of it been the cause of almost all thy spiritual sorrows? Why then may not the displeasing of it further thy joy ? Must not Paul and Silas sing, because their feet. 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 mean time, 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
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