Chap. g t Expo tion ul n the ßool¿bf Jas. Vetf.z l : 329 upon ir. The iin of the Age is, falling in love with the World ; therefore it may be good i'or us to be foundiv afflic &ed, that we may be weaned from the Works, rnd from all things in theworld, and bekept, evhereour true interefi is, in the boforai of Ch i ,or cloie to him. But if you chufe iniquity, will that take you off from the World? no ; the more fn , the mote love of the World ; for fin and the World are akin, t iey are of a Blood ; therefore the more you have to do with the one, the more you will have to dowith the other. Fifthly, Affliction brings us nearer to God. That which takes its off from the World, brings us neerer to God : this is an ex- cellent advantage, agreat goodof affliction. But chufe fin, and will that bringus neerer to God ? Sin is a departure from od; The. Lord faith to (inners, Te are departed andgone. Sin is fo fat from bringing us nearer to God, that as all in a (fate of fin, are far off from. God, fo every a6t of fin widens the difiance, and puts us farther offfrom Cod. Sixthly, Affliction is our conformity to Chriff. If you chufe afflic` ion, you chufe that which makes you look like Chriff ; for he was a man of furrows in this world, he was not in the ruff and jollity, in the power andpomp of this world, but low, and of no reputation, acquainted withgrief alibis dayes. If then yow chufe afiliG ion rather than fin, you chute conformity to Ch rift ; but chuffing iniquity rather than affhcion, you take up the uttnbfl dif- fortmity to Chriff, who knew no (in; n r was any guile found in his mouth. He took all cur . f1-h6,}ions upon him, but he would not touch our fin, as a doer of ir, only as (in our (lead) a fufferer for it. How great is the good of affiiaion ! But is there any good at all in fin ? Upon all theí "e confederations the Apofile faith, When God,the Fathe of fpi°its,afflidtshis fons anddaughters, he loth it for their profit, that the> may bepartakers ofhis hoiinejs (Heb. t 2. Io, I I . ) á hrr.Lord t+fl1i&s,us.for our p'ofi6, "but yhC dorli not 'fay I have let you fin sor your profit : For though the Lord is able ró, and Osten Both, b ing good out offin, yet not inftrumentally, but occafionally. Therefore the Scriptureattributes noprofit ro fin, but fpeaking of fin, it faithi what frwit bateye of thofe thinks. whereof ye are now afhaimeel (Rom :6..a_I. l ` llie'at your gain ; what are your advantages ? what the revenues which your íufls U u have
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