5Ao SIN DISCOVERED BV THE AFFLICTION. the eye sees all things but itself, and love hides a multi- tude of transgressions ; therefore God may make use of another to tell us of our sins, when we are very little apt to think of them. Those who are below us in grace and knowledge, may be made ase of by the providence of God to discover that sin to us that we did not see. 3. The reproaches of an enemy are sometimes a mean whereby God convinces of sin ; for these are under the direction of God too. David acknowledges when Shemei cursed him that " God bade him curse :" And he laid under the afflicting hand of God when " he was made the song of the drunkards, and the reproachof the foolish." Nathan was a friend that convinced David, and was sent of God ; and the drunkards that mocked him in the streets, were both taken by David as a reproofsent of God, and he was further convinced of sin by them. 4. The manner and kind of the affliction itself, and several attending circumstances and providences is a most frequent method that God uses to convince us of the crime for which he corrects. The man of wisdom will/ hear the rod and who has appointed it. (Micah vi. 9.) whence it is evident there is a voice in the rod, and the man of wisdom will hear it. That sins aré legible in afflictions is very evident from a great part of the history of both the Old and New Testament ; and indeed what are the histories of the world, ofthe lives of men, and the revolutions of nations, but a narrative of these punish- ments falling upon persons and nations for sins.. And this not only the wicked of the earth have experienced, but the saints of God also. Jacob deceived his brother Esau, and got his birthright from him : Jacob also was imposed upon by his own children concerning their bro- ther. In the New Testament, Peter was more confident than any of the disciples, and-he fell more foully than any other ; God recovered him for the glory of his own grace, and to make hire a preacher of righteousness to others, that they might not be high-minded but fear. It would be too long to reckon up instances of this nature where sin has been discovered in the punishment. If we would but remark our own faults and the punishments upon them, we should find out our own sins in our sufferings. If I lovea creature too well, God will blast my hopes, to teach me to love himself above all; if we are . too fond_Qf 5
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