IX. XI. Qtief idri,r, andCa fe.r of Confèiencé about B,FiNi®n.r. Chap, 7¡ 1pfe with immoderate grief: and ifwe lookupon there things as perpetuities ; we (hall be fubjeet to much forrow and finde fmall patience when theyprove mova- bles. So we fhotild look upon Honor, riches, relations,healrh,&c. Ei_hthly,We muff not befecure in profperity promifingtoour felves,immunity from future croffes, and the continuance ofour delights: This world that is aval- ley of tearswill not be a Paradife of pleafure tous. Confider that our providence, and fotefight of affl.ie{ ion'swill prevent many, and leffen all. Wife men make themfelves acquainted with future evillsby thinking on thembefore theycome, andmake rhofe affli&ions lieht by meditatingon them , which are made light to others by their cuftomable bearing of them. Ninthly, Having inour meditations difcovered there enemies approaching,we muff neithe fecurely contemn them, norfaintly yield to them beforewe areaf- faulted.The formerof there evils is to be avoided,becaufe there is fcarce any force fo weak which will not vanquifh a fecure enemie , and therefore that we may not lJ° cndan ered hereby, whenwe feeafiétions approching, let us intertaine a vi- lorous fear-which may excite us to arme againtt them, not a cowardly fear which would makeus faint-, and run away : Hence.Heb. iv 6: 'Pfla. I19.120. and in- deed we have fmall caufe to contemn afilie}ions if we confider our own weak- neffe and want ofpatience &c. The latter of thefeevils is to be avoided; beeaufe we fhould be couragious in the power ofGods might,and notfaint. lieb. r 2.6. we fhould refolvewith fob:Though thoukillme,yet will I trufE in thee,7ob.13.1 ç.fuch refolution was in the three Children; Dan. 3.18.InPeter, and john, AEi.ç. z9,8, In Paul, A. 21. 13. Hence Rom. 8.3 ç:' 38. Remember his promife. I Car. Io. T. Tenthly, We muff not wilfully run into affli &ions , but ufe all good meanes either to avoidthembefore they come, or CO be freed from them when they are come. As we muft nothide our (elves from themunder the covert of finful thifts when they are fent of God tofinde us ; fo we mutt not voluntarily feck them, and dare them to encounterus when they would be quiet,and meanus noharm. We mullnot fill this bitter Cup to our feIves, but only drinkof it, whenGod puts it into our hands, Jahn Ili. sr. Eleventhly, As we may not take upon us voluntary afflietions, whenwe may lawfully efcape them : fo neither may we lie under them Will, when we may by good and lawful meanes be freed from them ; for this is to tempt the Lord,when we needlefly delire to make experience of his Power; Providence, and promifed Aflïtlance, either for our delivery, orfor firength andpatience to undergo there wilful trials. For herein we referable ftubborn children, who wilfully fall that their Parents may catch hold of them, andbeing down, lie fiat and cry, that others may help them up. This is to tempt the Lard, CMat.4.7. Jacob ufed allgood meanes to efcape his brothers fury, Gen. 32. II, 13. C*fo- fes fled from Pharaoh, Excel. 2. r ç. David from Saul and Abfalom,i Sam. 19. 12. 2 Sam. r ç. 16. JofphandMary from Herod, Mat.. 2. 14. Paul from the Jewes, alb 9. z ç. and 22.21. and 23. Quefl. What confiderations may move us, patiently andquietly to bear chafe of litions which god layes upon us ? eAÍnfw. Firft, that afiliótions arenot laidupon us byGod as punifhments to fatisfie his juftice : For, I.'Chtift bore all our fins inhis body upon the Croflè, I Pet, z. 24. Ifa. 53. ç, 6, and hadnot Chriftdone this, he hadnot been aperfe& Saviour, nor had oWered tohisFathera full and al- fufficientprice for our Redemption. But he was a perfe& Saviour, Luke j. 74. Heb. 7. 25. and 9. 12, 26. c..21t. 2o. 288. [ehn 1. 29. I john 1. 7. 2: Chfift takingupon himour debt, bybeingour Surety, he bath difchargcd it to the uttermoftfarthing. *Yea, he bath alfo cancelled the hand-writing of Or i
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=