Queffións, andCafes ofConfcience Chap. 34 1. That all afflictions, from the leaf+ to the grcatefl, comenot byaccident , or chance, but by the fpecial providence of God. For, 1. C,odhath fore-appointed them, `Kom.8.29. we mull be conformed to his Son in fufferings. 2. God doth not only barely permit afflictions, but effects them , as they are corrections, tryals, and punifhments, 1ja457. Amos 3.6. 3. God orders and difpofeth them, lieiitting and appointing the beginning, continuance, meafure and end of them : Yea, he orders them to his owne glory, the good.of his fervants, and benefit ofhis Church : Hence he is faid to corred in judgment, 7er.3o.I s .So,Gen.50.59,20. z Sam.16.1o.T41.39.9 Obj. wecould bear affliffroas fromGod, but ours comesfrommen that hate ua. .Anfw. Lod ufeth them as his inl+rumens to execute his will upon us : there- fore we fhould fubmit: Sodid fofeph, Gen.45.5 and 5o. zo. z, Tell them of Gods command touching the Croffe, and the obedience we owe CO him therein , Luke 9. 23. we mull take up our coffe daily , and fol- low Chrifl : Hence, Micah 7.9.1 Pet. 5. 5, 6. and this beingCods command, we mull be as careful to obey him in it , as in any other moral Commandment. 3. God will be prefent with his fervants in afflidions,Pfal.r9.15. and 23.4. Quell. But how o Godwithua in affiitlions? Anfw. I . Towo-k our deliverance from them, Pfil.5o.15, yet with this limi- tation,fo far forth as its good for us. z. To temper, and moderate our afflictions, fo as we may be able to bear them , I Cor 0.I 2. Hab.3.2. 3. Or if he do continue them,yetlhe will comfort us in them, Phil.1.29. 4. To dous good by them, Rev.8.z8. Quell. What are thefruits andbenefits of affiiElions ? .A4. r.They makeus fee and confider our fins,Gen.42.zr. So in t.Manaffes. z. They ferve to humble us before God. So,Luke15.17,&c.Tfal.3o.6,7,8. 3. They ferve to work amendment of life , H.b.12.51. r Corinth. i i. 31. Pfal. 5,19.67,7z. 4. They caufe us todeny our felves , and to refl whollyon the mercyofGod, z Corinth. 1.9. 5. They make us cry heartily,andferventlyuntoGod,Tfal.78.34Hof. 5i 5. 6. They bringforth patience, &c. Rom. 5.3 7. Theywork us toobedience. So in Chrifl,Heb. 5.8. Qeft. Haw are atliffionsgood inregard of their quality ? e/3nfw. As they are pledges and tokens of our adoption , when we make a good ufe of them, Heb.1 z.7. 4. The lafl groundof comfort is, that whatever our dif+refl'e be, we have part- ners with us in the Croffe. For we have Chrifl our, partner : this was Paule comfort, Phil. 3.1o. So r Tet.4.13. Yea, Chrifl accounts them as his own , cf ifs 9.4. r Pet.4.12. And our brethren fuffer the like, t met.5.9. Quell. But how may a diffref/ed foul be fupported when God deferrer de- liverance ? Anfw. Firfl, Confider that God in his wifdoine bath fet down a time for every thing, Ecc1.3,i. So God appointed a time for drowningthe world,Gen.6.3. and for the Babyloni(h captivity, fer.z 5. r r . and for Ifraai being in Egypr,Gen.i 5.t3. This teaches Gods children fundry leffons. a. To wait Gods leafure with patience : though deliverance comes not in their time, when they would have it,yet it (hall come in Gods time when he bath app pointed it, Pfal. 30.5. Hab.2.3. z. Not onely to believe the promifes in general , and Gods faithfulncfs to fulfill them : but we muff believe them in particular , i, e. with application to their proper and feveral circumfiances, as theparticular time, means, and places
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=