600 APPLICATION TO THE AFFLICTED. guilt f)r which .God has or may contend with you : if it ve, God may condemn as well as contend ; and you have not ground for the same hope as Job had, who trusted in and prayed to God, that he would notcondemn him, in the same verse, ,where he desires to know the reason why God contended with him ; see, therefore, . that this be not in your hearts, for that will be, a reason of everlasting contention between God and you, if not removed. Perhaps you may complain you have had dif- ficulties and troubles in your life; consider whether God be not dealing kindly with you, in order to bring you to himself, and,, then these are kind afflictions, gracious pro- mises, though they may be bitter. 2. `Vhensoever we see others under any sorrow we should admonish them with gentleness, patience, and meekness, though we think their sin written never so plain in their afflictions. We are ready to be angrywith those we instruct and admonish if they will not take our admonition and reproofs; but remember it is only God can make them effectual to convince of sin, and let us not take the work of the Spirit of God out of his own hand as if we had power to convince of sin. 3. Let us pray earnestly to God for those under sore rows, that God would convince them for what sin he contends with them, for it is his work, and that in order to remove affliction. II. To those with whom God seems to contend, who are under his afflicting providences, I. At the time youare under such afflictionsadore the love of God in the Covenant of Grace, and that upon this account, he who contends with you will not condemn you. Let saints under sorrow remember this, and they will find some comfort to support them under it ; review your evidences for heaven, what ground for hope you have look to the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ, where you have committed it by faith ; endeavour to see your souls safe there at the last day, that you may not be condemned though he contend with you. Remember, there is no contention between God and you here, but that justlymight have been condemnation; and remem- ber' again, for your further encouragement herein, than God deals more kindly with you in this respect than He did with his son Jesus Christ, for when hé was under the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=