Vcr.4. Rules to be obfirvedconcerning Afic` ion. 32 7 calls t fit:in, I Pet. 4. 12. There can then no Argument bedrawn from Afitiion, from any kind of it, from any aggravating cir- cumffance wherewith it may be attended, that thould any way difcourage the foul in its comforting fupporting perfwafion of an interest in the LoveofGod and forgivenefs thereby. 2. No length or continuance, of Apclions ought to be any im- peachment ofour ffiritual confolation. Take for the confirmation hereof, the great Example of the Son ofGod. How long did his Affli6ions continue ? what end or iffue was put to them ? No longer did they abide than until he cryed with a loud voice and gave up the Ghoti. To the moment of his death ; from his Manger to his Crofs, his Afflidioas Rill increafed, and he ended his daies in the midil of them. Now he was the Head ofthe Church, and the great Reprefentative of it ; unto a con- formity with whom we are prede1 inated. And if God will have it fo with us, even in this particular, fo as that we (hall have no reff, no peace from our trials, until we lye down in the Grave, that whatever condition we pais through, they (hall be (hut out ofnone, but only from Immortality and Glory,what have we herein to complain of? 3. Lhre the .Remembrance and perplexing fenfe of paff fins is revived by prefent ajWiions ; feparate them in your minds, and deal diffine1ly about them. So long as you carry on the confide- ration of them j yntly, you will be rolled from one to another, and never obtain reti unto your fouls. They will mutually ag- gravate each other. The fharpnefs of Af ltution will add to the bitternefs of the fenfe of fin; and the fenfe of fin will give an edge to Aff7iáion, and caufe it to piercedeeply into the foul, as we (hewed in the former infances. Deal therefore diftinúly about them, and in their proper order. So doth the Pfalmiff here. He had at prefent both upon him, and together they brought him into thefe depths concerning which he fo cries out for deliverance from them ; feePfal. 32. 3, 4, 5. And what courfe doth he take ? he applies himfelf in the firti place to his fin, and the guilt of it, and that ditiiné}ly and feparately. And whenhe bath got a difcharge of fin, which he waited fo ear- netily for, his faith quickly arofeabove hisoutward trials,as ap- pears inhis blefed dole ofall He Pall redeem lintel out of all T.. t 3 bie
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