334 The Danger of Pro[perity' In the time of Affiidion, our Sins find tts out; and 'tis moll likely we ilia!! then find our Sins our, a11d with repenting Tears acknowledge them, and with Hatred renounce them. Now the ci>nfidcration of the dcfigned Benefit by AffliCtion•, Jhou!d recoliti!e them . to Ol_lr W ~ll s, and perfwadc .us, wid1 pa.J:icncc an? rhankfulnciS, to accept of rhcm as rhc Rev. 3 Tcfhmomes of God's pecult_ar Favour. C?urSaviOur declares, As many as I l07Je, I rebuke an_tlcbajleil; lt zealous and repent. God IS often moll angry, when he makes no fCnlibie Ezek. 16. 42. D1lcovcry that he is fo: rhus he threatens the rcbclliousJc~vs, I will make my_Fury towards tbf!e t'o rejl, andmy Jealoufi.'e foal! dep11rt from thee, and lwzli be quiet, a~d wd~ be nq mort: angry : Implying a fmal divorce, a leavmg them to their impure Idolatncs, WithOut more correction. If there be filch a hardnefs of Hcarc _as. the Fire cannot melt, fuch a rufr that the Fire cannot purifie, God will not wafie Ius Judgments on filch dcfperatc Sin, ncrs. He withdraws his chaftifmg Hand, as hopelcf$ of rheir Amendment, and rhat Defertion is a fatal fignacure of Reprobation. And on the contrary, many times God's Love i~ moll: tender and compaffionate tO us, when to SenfC there is rl1e leafi Evidence Senec .. a,prc- ~fit. Even the Heathens, in the r~vilight, between rhe d_arknei$ of Idolatry, and the ~idtnll•· i~~~~ ~~~~~d1 r~f ~~~l.ve~~JhCh~Wi~~o~~~v~v~e~~~:e Plt:;~lc'~~rdff~~o~fte~13~nfi~~~~~- Heb. 12 • ~v~~~l~~~ t~~:~~~s !: r:~:jl;:rl~erl~'~r;;g{~,~e;la~ 0j~l~~J~Jc~;~~~:er th;1R~~I i;s ~~j the afflicted ren_ttning Sinner may~ with an ado_privc Affiu·ance come to ~he Throne of Grace. By AfHtClions theWodd IS lcfs enticing and hurtful to us, and Heaven is more amiable and defirals!c : Tk things that arc feen, arc vilified and diflafled; and invifible things arc fought with our highefi: efl:cem and refpeCt, and zealous endeavours; Thofe Lufts that fpring, and grow, and flourifh in Profpcriry,_ arc blafied and wither, and die ~~;::.a*:;t. ~~i~~v~~fi~~~ R!J1~~e a~~~e fh~~~~~a;:11~.Gejr~~rse~~~~s:'\~~1~a~~~!~1 'H~l~n~}~:g~~lj{l~~~ bly to accept of his Mercy. By Afflictions the icnftaal Appetites are fubdu'd, and brought into order; a low fiate, lS a prorcClton from many ilrong and defiruCtivc O"ptimu. no1 Temptations. Sicknefs that brings near the Grave, and makes us feel how frail we are, ~~7~·:~fi,. ~~~~rs ~~~~rfi:~dlffi~~~~~~c,ist~a~l~{p~h~~~~~~~[~ fo~~fi~f~~~~l:t~t;'j~~s ~~herbl~~~ prcfence of God. The firfl to whom our Saviour promis'd the Rcfl and Joy of Paradife, was the Companion of his Crofs. Let us therefore, wirh ftee JUdgments, and finccrc Affections, make an e!hmatc of all fenfiblc things, not judge ·our fclves to be. in the f.1Vour of God, by the good ~~;:~~s ~~c;,~~c~J~~~e~d,n~l~~lfl~:~~::sa~:~~l 11flT~~~~s Loe; ~I~en~o~~:,urg~~s·~e~ru~~:~ P:~ P"rop'i'riluDt. Thoughts by the unening Wifdom of God, fo clearly rcvcal~d iu his \Vord. He is ;:::~:=~~ ~~o:~~~i~~5'a~~h~~~,!~~ ~~l~~~\~er ~=~~~v~~l~~~~: ~~oJef~~;~~~a~~n!t~nM~~s t~~~n~·t A fled:~ ~:/":,:"";;~ on~. It i ~ bttt a _little whil~, aftd the Pleafures of S~nncr~ ; and rl~c Afflictions of r_hc quod m"'',. Samts, wtll end 111 a flare dJieCtly contrary to what IS enJoyed or iuffcred he~e .. Witb t'!W. Aug. Gorl fl thoufand rears are hut as one f:!ay : the World is not of a Weeks fiandmg 1ll the Divine Account: he mcafutes all things by Eternity: The Velfe!s of Mercy arc by Janctificd Afflictions made fit for Eternal Glory. The Pef!els of Wratb are ly tbe aluji of his Bounty and Patience, fitted for eternal dej/ru{/ion. Phi!. i· rz. In the !all place, from hence we Jhould be warned to be always circumfpcct to avoid the Evils rhar ufually attend Profperiry, ro improve it to our eternal Advanrage. Profpcrity is not like an infected Garment, that transf)lfcs a contagious Malignity inro every one that wears it. A Perfon that is Rich and Honourable, and in Power, may nor on· Jy be a Saint, but the more a Saint by his dedicating and employing the Gifts of God to his Glory, and the Publick Good. 'Tis a Point of high and holy Wifdom, and on·y caught in the School of Heaverl, how to manage the oppofitc nares of the prefem Ltft, fo as nor to be vainly fwelling in Profpcri[y, nor broken and flagging in Advcrfity, b~c ro prcfervc an requailimiry, a conil:ant compofed mind, the blelfcd imitation of the divine Unchangeablencfs. S. Paul faith, wirhout vain arrogance, I know both how to h a/Jafed1 mJd I kno1b }Jow to a"bound: eiJery where, and ill all things 1 am inj}rufled,. ~oth to be fitll and to /;e hungry, both to abound and to fuO'er need. 'Twas a iecrer of Spmr, ~wr learn' cl fr~m Men_, bur from rhc hol~ Spirit of God. In fon)C re~pcCts 'tis a m?re ~Jf1icu1r cxerc1fc to m'anagc Profperiry than Adverfity. Many are l1ke 1-/anilmt,, v1Ctono~1~
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