Clarke - BV4500_C46_1659_v1

`Chap 34 about comforting afi&id confciences. places wherein, and whereby God will make them good to us. This made Da- niel fo to p:ay,when he knew the .event), years were expired,Dan.94,&,c. a. 24_ Secondly, when k.,oddefers deliverances, he Both it uponweighfy caufe4,beft known to himfelt, the principal whereof are, i.The maredeeply to humble us,and bring us to feltdeniat, and teach us pa-, tience. . 2. To teach us to acknowledge whence our deliverance comes: and accord- ingly rovalue and prize ir. For benefits eafily gotten arc regarded-, and foone forgotten. 3. To wean us from the world, and to draw us to meditations of the life to come , where all tears shall be wiped fromour eyes, Rev.z 1.4. 4. To prevent greater evils which we would run into,if we had our hearts de- fire. So Exod.23.29. Deut.7.22. Thirdly, remember that Cod exercifes his befl fervants with Ions continued aff1ielions : So he kept Abraham long childleffe ; and Zachay , and Eliza- beth, and David without the Kingdome ; and fo David complaines , Pfal. 119.8z, Ia3. duelt. But what if finde no end of osnof ithons but that they contrade un- to death ? Ánfw. Firfr, we muffdim even until deathcontinue to live by faith. Secondly, in themean time relieve thy foul with thefe meditations. I. Its Gods pleafure that we fhould through manifo'.d afflielicns enter into heaven, Aft. 14. 22. therefore murmur not at thy Fathers difpenfations , Prov. 3. 1I. z. Though thy affliElions be long; , and tedious, yet God will at length give a joyful iflùe. For fo he !lath promifed, Matth. s. 4. Pfal. 34. 19. and 37. 37 3. Our longefl afHidlions are not comparable to the eternal joys which God bath prepared for them that lovehim, 2 Cor. 4. 17. Rom. S. I S. Hence, I Per. 1.6. For, Heb.ro.37. 4. Thou h Godgrant notdeliverance fooner,yet his love is unchangeable,and the Croffe cannot feperate usfrom ir, Rom.8.35. Que[l, Brat how 'hall we be able to endure, with comfort, the pang of Death ? Anfu. Hereunto two thingsare required. I. Apreparation to Death. 2.Helps in the time ofdeath. Quefi. How fhall we prepare our felvesfor death? . Anfw. Firfl, pray oft with David, Pfal.39.4. Lord, make me ,aaw mine end, I &c. and with c l/ofes, Pfalme god z. Lord, teach roe t. `'' im' Ir' t.dnys,&c. Secondly, endeavour dailyCO difarme and weaken death :as the Ph:li?liner dealt with Sampfom : and this we mull do .by weakening inne , which is the fling of death, a Cur. a 5. 56. Thirdly, endeavourto have fome true talle of the joyes of Heaven afore- hand. Quef3. But how maywe attainhereunto ? t Anfw, Firfl by afurious confideration of the evils that hinder our hipnineffe,' which are foure. I,The miferydfour livesby reafon of finne,and the confequences thereof. For none isfree fromn, Prev.2o.9. Rom. 7.14.23,&c. 2. The vanity ofall things that are in the world , which therefore can never give full content, Ecclef. 1. t. 3. Themutable condition ofotir lives in this world : being but firangers here, 1 Pet.z. i 1. Reb.13.14. 4,, Whiteft we are here, we are feparated from our head which is in Heaven, aná i 3 5 I II,

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