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GENERAL
APPLICATION.
599
carry the
soul so
far
as
this;
but
when
the soul
sees
evidently
the
reason
why
it
was
corrected;
that
it
was
to
teach
it such a lesson
of
righteousness,
to
improve
such
a
grace, and
purge
out
such
a
sin,
then
it
blesseth
God
for carrying
on his own
work in
his
own'
way.
When
we
can discover plainly
that
these sorrows were
sent in
kindness
to
our
souls on
purpose
to
wean us from this
world,
and
to
prepare
us
more for the enjoyment
of
God,
then
we rejoice
that God
has
done
it this
way,
and
we
are
pleased to see
so
much
grace improved
in
our
souls,
though it
be by
the
means
of
affliction
:
If
we
value grace, holiness,
and the
spiritual
life
within
us, we
must
bless
God
for
that
which
promotes,
increases, and
car-
ries them
on
toward
perfection;
and
begin
that
work
here
in
time which
we
hope to
continue
to
eternity, glorifying
and praising God,
whose wisdom
and
justice
harmonized
and agreed together
in
this
way
of
bringing
us
to glory
:
If
we
are refined
as silver, we
shall be glad
to have
our
dross removed, though it
be
by
the furnace
of
affliction.
5.
The
soul, when
under
conviction
of
the spirit,
and
when
sin
is
discovered
to
it
under
affliction,
is
usually
for
ever
set
against
that
sin
:
the
soul
retains
and
remem-
bers
the
lesson
of
duty
when
it
has been
instructed
in
it
by
an
afflicting
providence.
When
Peter,
by
his
self
-
confidence,
by
trusting
in
his-own
strength, and
boast-
ing
in his
power, was suffered to
fall,
and
when
by
one
look
of
his
Lord
was
brought
to himself, he
hated self
-
confidence
ever after, and
bids us
"
pass
the time
of
our
sojourning here
in
fear."
The
very
mention
of
a
sin
for
which God
has severely
corrected
us,
will be
reason
of
mourning
all
our
lives
after
:
we
should abase
our-
selves
at
the mention
of
a
sin which
the Spirit
of God
has convinced
us of.
These are
some
of the characters
of that
conviction
of
sin
which the
Spirit
of God
gives
us
under trouble
and sorrow.
APPLICATION.
I.
To
all in
general.
II.
To
those
that
are
now
exercised
with afflictions
from the
hand
of God
the father.
I.
To
all'
in
general.
-1.
Search
your
own
hearts
di-
ligently to
know
ifunbelief and
ttnregeoeracy
be
not that,
4