35o 2héProfit ofllfflídions, or, Affliaions Afflicions and chaftifements, they become profitable,as the furnace to the gold,Ì they ate profi- to purge out the drofs, to makea feparation betvven the pure metal, and the table. , ore. Profitable as phyfick to the body, to purge out the malignant humors. Profitable, as Popeto the cloth,to fetch out the Rains, to take out thegreafie (pots ( it is the Scripture expreffron , their hearts are 6,14 fat as greafe) to make thins vvhile. Profitable,as theThunderto the Ayr,to purge it,tomake it more commodious to breath in. Profitable , as the vviud to the vvater , to make it the purer by its ventila- tion. Profitable, as the pruningknife to the tree, tomake it morefruitful. Their and the like metaphors vve have, and by themvve are to conceive ofthe good, and benefit that comes to us by Gods caftigation, and fatherly exerciuugof his people vvith his difcipline,and rod ofAffliétion. But vvhat are thefe bleffedfruits, vvhat is the profit accruing to the foul of the people ofGodby this means ? The bleffed I can but name part of them. Befides that vvhich is expreft inthe Text, that vve fruir of afhi might be partaker of his holinefs,thefe are thefegraciouseffeéts ofafiliCtions.Wean- diona. ing from the vvorld : a bringingus into more acquaintance vvithGod. A2a144fith 2 Chron. r 3. vvhen he vvas in afflietion, he befought the Lordbis God, andhumbledhimfelfgreatlys ra. before the. God.ofhis Fathers, and prayed 'into him; and then (faith theText) he'. knew that the Lordbe war God. God by this means makesus knovv our (elves: thel vanity of the creature ; the finfulnefs of fin ; thefvveetnefsofthe Word ; the ex-j cellency that is in the promifes ; makesus more compa(fionate to others; keepeth us from hell ; and many otherfruits thereare ofaffliétions. But to pafs this. A fecond thing implied in the Doarine is this, that as affliâions are means con. clueing toour profit,foGod in exercifinghispeople vviththem,mainly intendeth it. Dent. S. r q. The Lord ( faith Motes) led thee through that great and terrible wildernefs, where- in were fiery Serpents, andScorpions, anddrought, where there was no water, Tittered thee tohunger,brougbt theeinto bardf$raights; but vvhat vvasGods aim in this? that he might humblethee ; andthat hemight prove thee, todo thee good at thelatter end. Iii. z. 9. By this (faith theProphet, fpeaking of the affhdionsof theChurch) fballthe ini quityof3!acobbe purged; and this isall thefruit to takeaway bisfn. This, I fay, isthat vvhichGod intendeth bythe affl; hionsofhispeople: and this isthat vvhich the fervantsofGod,by faithhave been able to apprehend,and to inter- pret the Lords meaning in all his (harp difpenfations tovvards them : As the Pro- phet Habakkuk, having made aterribledefcription ofthe Babylonifh rod, he con Heb,r. ra; eludes in the tvvelfth verfe ofhis firftChapter ; Artnot thoufrom everlafîing,OLord, my Gal ? we finallnot die,, O Lord, 'thou haft ordainedthem for judgement: and O mighty God, thou haft effablifhed them forcorreElion. The saints of This is that likevvifevvhich theSaints ofGod have looked for, and epe&ed, that God have wai- vvhile thevvinds ofaflliétions have beenblovving, fome (hip or other fhould come red for the home richly fraighted. SoDavid, vvhenthat ftorm ofcurfing camefrom the mouth profit of afflo. of Shimei: Ch'( faith David) let him alone, let him turfs, it may be that theLord ßions. a Sam. t6, 'a. will look on mine affhllion, and that the Lord will requite goodfor his curling this deny. So vvhen iab¡hakcthcame up againft yerufalem : Let him alone ( faithFlea-e-, tfa. 37.4 kaah) anfuer horn not a word, it maybe the Lordwill hear the words of xabfhaketb, whom his Mafger bathfeat to reproach the livingGod, andwill reprove the words which the Lord bath beard ; It Tray be the Lord vvill open his ear upon this rage and blaf- phemy, and confider his people and do thengood. TheSaints ofGod,I fay, have expeéfedgood, andbenefit fromGods affli&ing ofthem. Vfe s. For the ufe of this, and fo to dravv toa conclufion. In the firft place: Seeing For reproof. this is Gods intentin all his adminiftrations to his people, efpecially in his caftiga- tions ofthem, and reaching out unto them fuck (harp and bitter potions. It may ferveto check and control all thofe hard thoughts, that vve areapt to fuffer to lodge within
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=