Job:a.:u. lfa.:r:r. SERMON VI. How to bear AffiiCl:ions. HEBREWS XII. 5· Mj Son defpije not thott the chafleniiJg of th, Lord, nor faint whm thou art rebuk.!d of him. Second{y,I ~hall procee? to prove, 'tis the bell: Wifdom not to defpife God's Chaften· wgs, nor fawt under them. I wtll not wfill: upon the Confideration that 'tis the CounCelof the fupream \Yifdom to us, nor that 'tis the avoiding the vicious Ex. treams, wluch IS the chrefell: Pomt of Moral Prudence : But it is the only way to pre. vent the greatell: Mifchiefs that will otherwife befal us. 'Tis C:iid, he that is wife is profitable to himfelf, that is either in obtaining Good, or preventing Evils. Now it will appear how pernicious thofe Extreams are, by confidering; 1. The Contempt of Chall:eniAgs, deprives us of all thofe Benefits which were intended by them. God's End in them is to imbitter Sin to our Tall:e, and make us dif. relith that deadly Poifon : for as, according to tlJe Rules of Phyfick, Contraries are Cured by Contranes ; fo Sm that prevails by Plcafure, by fomething delightful to the Carnal Part, is mortified by what is affiieli:;e to SenCe. Repentance is a Duty that beft complies with Affir~~ho~ : for when the Spmt ts made fad, and brought to the Sobriety of Confiderauon, 1t will more readtly reReCl upon the true Caufes of Troubles : When the Springs overflow, 'tis but direeling the Stream into a right Channel, the changing the Objeel of our Grief, viz. mourning for Sin infi:ead of farrowing for outward Trouble, and we are in the way to Happinefs. Senfible Sorrow leads to Godly Sorrow. The natural is fir!l:, then the fpiritual. Now the Defpifers of God's Hand, that are unaffeeled with Judgments, are incapable of this Benefit. For if they do not feel the Blow, how thall they take notice of the Hand that ll:rikes ? If they are not foftened with Sorrows, how fhall they receive the Divine Impretlion? If they have no fenfe ofhis Difpleafure, how fhall they fear to offend him for the future ? If the Medicine doth not work, how can it expel noxious Humours? 2 . The negleel of Chall:enings cloth not only render them unprofitable, but expofes to e;~)t~~ ;~~~kes God to withdraw his Judgments for a time. This the Sinner defired, and thinks himfelf happy that he is at eafe : Miferable Delufion ! This Refpite is the Pref'Je of his final Ruin. 'Twas the defperate State of Judab, as God exprelfes it, Wliy ~;:; t6:/~f,r;~f:;; :!r r:;:;~;~s: c!~r.~:''K'i~d;:t.,mc~re~ro~;~~d:e~iai~ =~~~~~~~~:; obfi:inate Son ; and finding no anfwerable Effect, gives him over to follow the pernicious fwinge ofhis corrupt Ii)efires. No Severity is like the fuffering him in his licentious Courfes. Thus when God hath ufed many gracious ways to reduce the Sinner, by his Word, Spirit and Judgments, but he is inflexible to the Calls of the Word, impene· trable to the Motions of the Spirit, and inlenfible of afflicting Providences; when after a Combate with the Rod, Sin comes offunwounded, and the Rod retires ; this Calm is more dreadful than the fiercell: Storin ; nothing can be more fatal to the Sinner, for by this Divine Defertion he is given over to a reprobate Mind, and vile Affections; he he goes on undifiurb'd in his Sins, and every day increaCeth his Enmity agam!l: God, and provokes God's Enmity again!l: him. 'T1s not conceivable th:tt one who IS no~ made pliable to the Grace of God by Affiielions, fl10uld fubmit when he is in pleafant Crrcumilances, and difpos'd to enJOY fenfual Satrsfactions. If the Whip and Spur cannot break and tame the unruly Beall:, certainly the rich Pafiure will never make him manageable. So that God's ccafing to puoifi1 the Sinner at prefent is [o far from be in~ a Favour, that "tis the Effect ofhis deepefi Difpleafure; for it contributes to his hardnmg. 'Tw.s the Cafe of Phnrao!J, when any of the Plagues were removed: Indulgence occafionetnS~~
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