- upo.n the Epiflleof JAMB s. VER s.,. ----------------------~----------------- . . 6. From that word[tm1ptations]obferve, Th111.t the afflictions of O bjtr·v~t•.6 God1people are but tr]als. He calleth them not ajfli[lions or perfeCHtions, bu,ttemptations , from the end for which God fendeth . them: the fame.word is elfewhere ufed , 2 Pet. z. 9· God~oweth , how todeliver the (jodlj out oftemptatioft: now affliction is called tempt.1tion, not ·in tht; vulgar ien{e, as temptation is put for an occafion or inducement to fin, b,ut in its proper-& native fignification, as ics taken for tryall and experience ; and fo we have •t pofitively alferted, That this is the end of God, Deut. 8. I6. He fed thee 'With Mantta ~n. the_wjldernefs, tB humble thee , and prove thte 3 anddo theegoodat the latter end. The affiid:ions of the Saints are not judgeme.nt_s, but corrc[l_ions, .or tryals; Gods- Difcipline ,to mortifie fin ,,·or his.means to difcover grace, to prove our fairh, love, patience, fincenfie, confianci.e, &c. Well then, behave .thy felf as one under tryall; let nothing be difcovered in thee but what is good and gracious: men will do their befi at their tryall; oh·c watch over your felves with the more care, that no impatience~ va– nityJ inurmuring,or worldlinefs of fpirit, may appear in you. ,Verfe 3• _Knowing thu, That the tryal ofyour f.rJith Wgrk.fth Patience. Here is the firfl: Argument, to prefs them to joy in affliCtions, ta– ken partly·from the nature, partly from the tffcCl: of them : The na- . ture of them, they ate a trya1of faith : The effeCl: or fruit of them, they beget or wqrk, patience ·: Let us a little examine the words. Knowing,] It either implyeth, That they ought to k.fo\'%1 asPau! faith elfewhere, I T/,ej[. 4• I 3.1 would not haveyou ignorant ,bre.– thren, concerning them that are apeep in thc_Lor.d, &c. So f0me fuppofe James fpeaketh as exhorting; Knowing, that is, I would · have you know : Or elfe 'tis a report ; lznowin~, that is,ye do know, being taught by the Spirit and experience : Or rather, lafily, 'fis , adireEfion, in which the Apofile acquaimeth them with the way, how the Spirit fetleth a joy in the hearts of perfecuted Chrill:ians, by a live)y knowledge , or fpirimall difcourfe , by aCting their thoughts upon the nature and quality of their troubles: and fo k.nowing is tdifii~~ly confidering. ~h~"t th-& trydll' of yourFaith ] Here is a new word ufed for affitd:tons; ·before 'twas '7f.He_g.a-p.o'i~ temptations, "which is more ge– nerall; here it is Jox.ip.1ov trya!, which noteth fuch a tryal as tenD dcrh
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=