Clarke - BV4500_C46_1659_v1

4? ! Qneftion i,an'dCafes ofCo,4'cienceatouti ffliEfion.r. Chap.7i dens toour backs, and his firoaks to our ftrength, 1fa. 27. 7. Obj. But Paulfaith, z Cor. r.8. that he was prefjed out of meafure? Anf .n.Firli,lnr eed hemet withun eafonable menwho knew no meafure, and his affliaions. wer; abovehisfirenth as a man ; butbe was able to da, and to fuíf:r all chins, throughChrifi fir ngtbening him, Phil.:}.13. At fuch times cod encreafeth their power, Ifa. 40. 29,&c. II. h' Secondly, nor too long, thoul,h we are apt tocry, Hon, long ? and i little 2 Co-r- 4, 17. time fcer,s long ;`But God who intends our good, mutt take a timeanfwerable to his own inrentions ; when the fore is cured, the philter will fall off; If we be nor in the fatly, ufually t by time is (port : Aday : the evil day, Fph. 4.13, /1 night, Pp 1. ;o. S. A peke òf anight, If, 17.14. Amoment, !fa .S4.8. A (mall moment, ver. Haw can this be when afR flions are oft much longer ? I d fw. Firfl, in the times of afüidion there are many latida intervalla, in- tertniifions, partly, by cafe from thepain and grief that oppreffeth, and partly, becaufe. of the joy and fwect communion with God, which times being rub- , ' ftraCIecl, there remaines but a little time. II. j Secondly, when the affli&ion is patt, and we lookback to fee 'what good cameby it, how lulls were purged or prevented : how graces were cherishedor encreafed : how fweet mercies are when reftored, we íhall eafily fay that it was not too lone, only our patience was too (hoer. III. Thirdly, if we confider the eternity, wherein we (hall reap the f uit of Cur fi.ff:rinss, we (hall conclude that it was not too long. See Mr."Valentines Par/. Sermor. ( ueft. what are the benefits of receiving our afibiiens as from god ? I. Anf"v. Firfi, is will put us upon ferious humiliation for our fins, whereby we have provoked him againft us, the ratherbecaufe nohand can heal us, but the fame that hath wounded us, Hefeá 6,T. a Chro.7. r4. II . Secondly, it will bear up our fpirits, not tofink when our afflidìions come thickeft, andlie heavieft upon us. l or it is our Fathers Cup, and that only for correetion, Piá1,7ó. I o. III. Thirdly, it wouldrefrain us from ufing any unwarrantable meanes for our deliverance. Quell. What is efpecially to be feared when afjliflions are luau, and 'long upon its. Anfm. Fin I, then efpecially fear, and look to the feedsof rageand madnefl'e which are in thy heart. Never moreneed to look to the banks, then when a tempelt isupon the fea. Have you feen a beati break his teeth upon the chain that ties him ? or a dogpoure forth his revenge upon the (lone that hurt him, then have you Peen force dark thadowes of that 6erceneflè andfury that is apt to rite out ofour hearts, when Gods hand lies clofeupon us. When thou heareft ofthe frange impatience of Jorah, at the beating ofthe Sun upon his head,un- to whom yet it was a wonder that hedid now fee the Sun: when:thou hearer( of thofe deepexpófluiations of Davidwith God, Pfal.77.9,ic. Hath heforgotten to be gracious ? forgotten his Promifes ? forgortenhis Truth ? fort,ottenhisPow- er and civfcrcy ? and !hut upall his kindncfe in dsfpleafure ? when thou hearetl: the impatiencies of Job, yet amass renowned for his patience, Jam. 1,1 T. expo- flulating and chareingGod, Is trgood for thee that thou fhoulde/t oppreffe ? lob 10. 3. when. thou (rearedof thofe deep curfes of Jeremy againft the day of his birth,, Tee.20.14,1 b. of thole froward expofiulations apcl debates - f the people of Ifrael with Mofes, and of Mofes. with God, VVhy haft those evilentreated this people ?wiry haft thoufensewe? Exod.;.zS.az. Oh then rellea upon thy felfe, and be afraidof thine own evil heart, which isfarre more likely tobreak our against God, thenany of thofewpm ; and for prevention. hereofkeep ha thy I. an 'Ci

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=