gbds 111 his C orreEitonc. 3 4.9 togethértogite attendance upon the preaching of theWord; then think, what am I come hither for ? is itnot for my profit? would God have me triflle out my time? furely the Lord would never have tingled out a day of (even for himfelf, but that he might likewife make his peoplepartaker offpiritual advantages,and heavenly,be- nefits : and therefore I lofe a day,and never hearwell,exc-ept I hearto profit. And tipswhat I fay of this Ordinance, 'Imight likewife fpeak of the reff before named. And fo for this prefent occafion ; the Lord now you fee is pleafed tocall us to the houfe ofmourning. Was it think ye; the purpofeof God, that we fhould meet to- getherhere in a cuftomary complemental manner, to do things in a common garb', only to at together, and drink together ? No , the Lord calleth us to a haufee of mourning, for our profit, that we might confider theend ofall men, and that we that are living, might beythething to heart. And for you that are in prefent diffrefs, in regard of this particular affliEtîon ; reckon upon this, that God bath done this for your profit ; labour ye therefore tó reap the fruit of it ; be not fo muchporingupon the affliâion;and altogether.com- plainingof the bitternefs of the cup ; butfollow on afterthe profit and benefit that God intendeth you thereby. And let every one labour to improveall adminiffre- tions of God to this purpofe that as he in them all intendeth our good, fo let us perlite afterthe benefit: Secnndly,let it inffruét us further concerning otrduty; even to walk worthyof 7Jrt a. fuch a God as many of us as are inrelation to him, as children to a Father, and fer- Of iaRmQi- vants to a Mafrer ; How fhould this firff ofáll,win us over to fuch a Father,tofuch O0 a- Mallet ? and tomake it our higheff ambition,to be the people of fuchaGod, the ,children of filch: a Father,that isdevoted tothe profit and advantage of his children and fervants ? This is the graciousgoodnefs of God, he takes pleafure in the pro- fperityof his fervants : theirprofit is his pleafure : Let us therefore walkworthyof fuch a Father,of fuch a Maffer; And feeing he intendethour profit,and that we can- not profithim, let us labour to walkin allwell-pleating : We cannotprofithim, let us labour topleafe him. Laffly, here is swordof inffruEtion for Minifters,we fhould in this cafe (as thofe thatare intrtffed with the facred ordinancesofGod) labour to put onthe mind of God (fo the Apoffle, we have, faith he, the mindofChrif?,) We in the courfe of our Minilfry, as God aimethat his peoples profit, fo fhould we,not aimatour on praife,and at our profiting by them,but that we might profit their fouls. OWelled preaching, when people profit by our preaching,when they are by that increafed in knowledge, in love, in faith, in every grace. SuchaPreacher was Saint Paul: I pleafe all men (faith he, s Cor, lo. ult. but how ? notfeeking mine own profit, bat theprofit of many,tbat they may be faved. Oh labour topreach profitably, that our people may thrive under our miniffry. This is that whichGod aimethat,and thisis that which we fhould aimat too. And thus I hive done with the firft, and more general prppofition arifing from the words of the Text. I comenow to the fccond andmore particular thing that we areto confider hence;, and that is,' that, As Godgraciouflyfetteth bimflfto procure his peoples profit in all his adminifíra- Propof. z. rions ; fo this is that he aimethat, in all the affiifl'iont and chaf?ifements, he Gads aim in exercifeth them withal. afHiQìag his children, is their profit. It is nopleafure for him to be lathing and whipping his people,to hold them un- der fuch (harp difcipline,it isfor the profit ofthechildren : fo theText exprefeth it, 1 but he for our profit.. Which firff ofall implieth, that aflli&ionsand chaffifements are a means condu- cing to the profit of thofe that undergo them : A point plainin the Text, and the Scripture abundant in the proofof it ; and theexperience of the Saints in a plenti- ful manner confirming it. It isgoodfor me (faith David) that I have beenaff[ifled. Gen. 41. Z. And yofeph Muth this honourable tefhimony ofGod, TheLord ( faith he) hash caufedme to befruitful in the land ofmy ofiblions ; and thereupongiveth his child a name fumble. Affliâionsj
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