Chap. 29. ,fly Expo /ition upon theBio{¿ ] o B. Verf. 2. 42.3,; Secondly, We may de6ce the refforing of a wtorldly good,thac others may be delivered frorri or convinced of their miaakes, who upon our toile of it think evil of us, or fay, freely we have donemuch evil becaufe we endure fomuch. That others maybe freed from thiserrour,we may erifh that God would freeus from our trouble ; and this may be probably fuppofed one of fobs ends in thiswith. Third ly,We may delire ir,rhat weNay with the more Tweet- nets and quietnefs of fpirit ferve the L10, and that our impatience may nomore find an advantage by our paines.,Some aftl&one (I grant) fit us (through grace) yea and quicken us to .duty., but thofe afflid{ionswhich are accompanìtd with great Nines up- on the body, and trouble uponthe mind (whichwas jobscafe): thofe (1 fay) unfit the heart for and diffraet it much id'duty.; and to delre to be freed from affli6ion, that we may ferve God more freely, is not only a blamedeffe but a commendable and gra- cious defire. Our fins and corruptions do alwayes hinder and clogg us in duty, and fo do our forrows and affii& ions often.. A man under great fufferings , is under a great burden ; And he that bath a heavy burden upon his back, is very unable to put his hand or move his foot about any work. And therefore as it is out duty (according to that counfel given, Heb. 12. i.) To lay a/ida every weight (of worldly cares, pleafures, or encumbrances ) and thefin (thebofome corruption, or molt taking lull) wh-cb dothfo eafily beret us, that we may run withpatience the race (of obedience in fuffering, for of that the text fpeakes) which isjet before us: So it is not at all inconfiffent with our duty, to entreat the Lord that,be would take. off from us thofe greivous weights of trouble, and chore fufferings which do fo-hatdly-befet us, than' fo we may run with cheerfulnefs the race of obedience (in doing that) which himfelf lets before us. This alto may beconceived jobs mind and gracious defigne inbreathing out this wifh,O tb.tt it were withme as in the Months pall. And therefore Thirdly, Though is bea very generally received opinion-, that Sob deured a changeofhisflare, yet fame:think otherwife, and I amapt tojoyn with them in opinion ,. that 706did not fo. much, if at all, delre the refiauration. of his outward fiourifhing flare, as that God would reflore him to the beauty and joyof his fpi- r:itual f att in which he once flourifhed,but was now fullydecayed. As i
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=