Chap.7. Queffionr,ahdCafes ofConfcience abolit 1fiiotts. thy fight the history of thy fins , make themas hainqus tothy own view as theyare in their own nature.Tlíeway not to rage againft aifli6tions is to know our felves a- right;that will make us CO confefs as Ezra,That theLord hashpunished us lefs then our iniquities have deferved. zr.9.I 3: The way to bear the handofGodWith pa- tience is to confefs pur fins, and robe humbled for them., Levit. 26.40, 41. Wherein is ¡dewed that th-e tight of our finne andhumiliation for it,iithe way to Make usaccept of the chaftilementsof God: fo Lament. 3. 39. wherefore doth the living mancomplain ? a manfor thepunishmentofhisfns.Where arc three 13rong reafonswhy we should not . murmure in Sur afllietion. Firíi, We are men , and what an impudency is it for the clay tó. £well againft the Porter that formedir, and complairie why halt thou mademe thug ?secondly, We are finners all the puniihnients we fuffer are thewages Of our oyvne iniquities , and"what a mad- nefs is it to complaine again(( the justice of our judge ? Thirdly , Weare livingmen , and therefore God hath puiilhed us lets then our /ins def rve : for thewages of fin is death: Rom. 6. 23. and what ingratitude is it to repine againft mercifull, and moderate punishments ? andyet we are pronehereunto ; Brut it is the cure;See z'. 40. Let usfearch, and try our wäyes , and turrie again unto the Lordour God, the more that we grow acquainted withour finful éftares,and mar- vellous provocarions, with the patience , andpromises ,of God., the morewe flíall juftifie God, and wait upon him; the more we shall judgeour felves lefs then :beIce ofGods mercies , forbearances; as Mich. 7.9. q. d. I have preffed, and vexed, andwearied him withmy finswithout any care ofhis glory ;but he bathvi- feted me in jugdment riot infury:ln wrath he hath remembermercy,andnot con- fumed me as he might havedone, he hath not rewarded me accordingtomy fins, &c. but bath fpared me as, àfon,wlien I dealt with him as a Ttaytor. See Dr. Aay- néldsfnfulmfs o ffn, p. 175. Quefl. Haw (hall we beare afflifiions rrorhtly ? 14jw. Firft, Ifwe count it no firange thingto lie vnder it, IPet.4. t a. but rather that it is that whereunto we are ordainedofold, tobe conformed to Chrift in affli&ions that we may be like him in rJory. Dorn. S. 29. Yea , if we efleem them asthe beaten path, by which God willhave all his Chiluren to enter into heaven. AEis 14..22.2 7 tm.3. t 2. 21y,Ifweobferve the exampleofall,or the möfl excellent ofGods fervants,an-1 cfpeciaflyof his onlySon,frcin the be:,inning ofthe wp ld to this day, FIeb.i 2.I.2 Thirdly, If we inure and :accuf ome ourfelves to beare theyeakfrom.our yourh,it will cameour proud and rebellious hearts, and frame us to beare atfliai- ons the better ever after. Lam.3. 27. Fourthly , Ifwe confider that Satan every day invents newmifchiefagainft us; Yob. s. 6. eze Fifthiy,ifwe remember that it's afign ofGods love, Heb.I2.7. R.Sv.3.I9. and that the iflue will be good and blefled,Pfal..37.5. Efth.4.16. ,j¡,. Sixthly, Ifwe remember themany ,pódufes 9f aflli:tions. For hereby Gods power appears inour weaknefs : and we have the better proofe of his race dwel- ling in us : 2 Car. 12.9. as Faith,Hope, Love,humblenefsofminde, patience,&c. that thefe li,hr, and mamentany afflictions work, an exéeedin,, dad eternaliweight ofglory. z Cor.4.I7. Quell. How /hall we before to profit by affiaions? erfnfw. Firfiby the confeflìons ofthe Saints,whohaveexperimented ir: as Da- vid , Pfal. ti9. 67, 71.1LIanaffh. 2 Chron. 33:13. u.How come we by wisdom not only patiently to bear., but toprofit by offliliions? e4iifw. Firfl,it's obtained ofGodby prayerjam.I.¶,6,17. Secondly,by a due confideration ofthe end,fruit, and ufes of affli6tions. Quell. What arc thecad r f affìiffions ? 14nf.Firft,To keep us from wandring,or to bringus backwhenwe have erred,& H to 71- ce.. fr. .2.44, 49 I I. I.
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