326 Ruler to be obferved concerningAfliClion.r. P fai,i. Rules to be obferved concerning Aflliftions. z . Not only A.flZions in general, but great and manifoldAf_ fliúions, and thofe attendedwith afi forts of aggravating circum.. fiances, are alwaies conJijtent with the pardon of fin, after fignal tokens and pledges of it, and of the Love of God therein, Job 7. I7, 18. What it man that thou fhouldfff magnifie him, and that thou fhouldfffet thine heart upon him, and that thou fhouleiff vifit him every morning, and try him every moment ! What were the con- fiderations that caf' him into this admiration of the Care and Love ofGod, is exprefí'ed, v. i 2, i 3 ,14, x 5, id. There are no words ofa more difmal import in the whole book than triofe here expreffed ; yet when he recplle6ed himfelf from his over- whelming diftrefs, he acknowledgeth that all this oceeded from the Love and Care ofGod ; yea his fixing hir heart upon a man to magnifie him, to jet him up, and do him good ; For this end doth he cha(fen a man every morning, and try him every moment ; and that with fuch agliuiions as are for the pre- lent fo far from being joyous, as that they give no Reft, but even weary the foul of life,as heexprelfeth their Effe7s on him- felf, v. 15, i6. And hence it is obferved of this Job, that when none in the Earth was like to him in trouble, God gave him three Teftimonies from Heaven, that there was none in the Earth like unto him in Grace. And although it may riot be laid down as a General Rule, yet for the molt part in the pro- vidence ofGod, from the foundationof the world, thofe who have had moll of Aftliaions, havehad moil of Grace, and the moil eminent Teftimonies ofAcceptance with God.ChrifJefns the Son ofGod, the Head of the Church, had all Afflidions gathered into an head inhim ; and yet the Father alrraies loved him, and was alwaies well pleafed with him. When God folemnly renewed his Covenant with Abraham, and he had prepared the Sacrifice whereby 'it was to be rati- fied and confirmed, God made a frnoaking Furnace to pats be- tween the pieces of theSacrifice, Gen.15, 17. It was to let him know that there was a furnace ofAffliWon attending the Cove- nant of Grace and Peace. And fo he tells Sion that he chofe her in the furnace ofAffliction, Ifa. 48. io. that is, in ¡Egyptian 4,fïiaion, burning, flaming ai liâíons, fiery tryals, as Peter calls
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