Cap.16. Aát Expofition upon:.tbBook ofJ OB. Yerf.5. z4 feelings of hisown adverfity.Iieman is exprefs in this, Pfal: 88. a 5. While Ifsfer thy terrours I amdittra led:Yet the word in the .Pfalm doth not lignifie properly the d,fradion of a man that is mad,but the diftradion ofa man that is in doubt or the difira(kion ofa man who knows not what to do, not of a man who knows not what he doth,andyet that diflradi- ondoth often lead to a degree of this ; for a man who is much troubled to knowwhat to do, and cannot know it, grows at Lift to do he knows not what.Wemay alto take in that about difirac`kion ariling from of hió ion, which was toucht about diltrat` ion caufed by oppreffion ; Thofe Chrifiians who are highefi in fpirituals, and have the quicken fenfe of Gods dd., penfations towards them, do fooneft fall into it ; whereas a foul upright in the main, yet being of weak and low parts, and of frnall experience in the things of God, will go, yea groan under a heavy burden of affliction all his dayes, and not be much moved with it. Fourthly, obferve. Agodly man maygrow extream weary ofbis afflitions. Aftk$ ion is the burden which God layes upon us, and it is our duty, not only to bear it, but to bear it with content- ednefs ; yea we fhould labour to bear it with loyfulnefs. My brethren (faith the ApofileJames, Cbap. r.) Account it alljoy whenyefall into diverfe temptations;that is,into diverfe afidions. But yet the belt cannot alwayes rejoyce in temp- tations, nor triumph undera crofs; when afllidion accord- ding to that defcription of the word, Belo , 4, 12. comes quick,andpowerful,as a two edgedSword,andpiercetb to divide between thefoul and tbefpirit, the joynts and the marrow,when oflidion (I fay) cutsto the quick, a believer is put hard to he may be fo far ( for a time) from tryumphing and rejoy- ciug, that hecan fcarcely find h;mfelf contented or patient ; his burden may caufe him to cry out,O,the wearinefs ! Carnal men cry out at everyburden ofduty in the fervice ofGod, O what a wearinefr is it, They are tyred with an hours attendance in holy things 3,0 the burthen l Much more do they cry out underthe lighter burthens ofaflhiGtion, How tedious is a day, oran hour ofaffliction ; two or three fits ofan ague- an aking tooth, a fore finger, O what a wearincís"isthis ? They fink prefently; True Beleivers, as K k they
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