1 That by afflictions, God may not only *correct our sins past: but also work in us, a deeper loathing of our natural corruption; and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit: like a good Father, ⟨p. 823⟩who suffers his tender Babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware of falling into a greater fire. So that the child of God may say with David, 2It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn thy Statutes: for, before I was afflicted, 3I went astray, but now I keep thy Word. And indeed (saith S. Paul) we are chastened of the Lord, 4because we should not be condemned with the World. With one Cross God maketh two cures: the chastisement of sins past, the prevention of sin to come. For though the eternal punishment of sin (as it proceedeth from Justice,) is fully pardoned in the sacrifice ⟨p. 824⟩of Christ: yet we are not (without serious judging of our selves) exempted from the temporal chastisement of sin; for this proceedeth only from the love of God, for our good. And this is the reason, that when Nathan told David, 5from the Lord, that his sins were forgiven: yet that the Sword (of chastisement) should not depart from his house: 6and that his Child should surely die. For GOD, like a skilful Physician, seeing the soul to be poisoned with the settling of sin; and knowing that the reigning of the Flesh vvill prove the ruin of the Spirit: ministereth the bitter pill of affliction, whereby the relics of sin is purged, ⟨p. 825⟩and the soul more soundly cured: the flesh is subdued, and the spirit is sanctified: Oh the odiousness of sin, which causeth God to chasten so severely his Children, whom otherwise he loveth so dearly!
1 That by afflictions, God may not onely *correct our sinnes past: but also vvorke in vs, a deeper loathing of our naturall corruption; and so preuent vs from falling into many other sins, which otherwise vvee would commit: like a good Father, ⟨p. 823⟩vvho suffers his tender Babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that hee may the rather learne to beware of falling into a greater fire. So that the childe of God may say with Dauid, 2It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted, that I may learne thy Statutes: for, before I was afflicted, 3I went astray, but now I keepe thy Word. And indeede (saith S. Paul) wee are chastened of the Lord, 4because wee should not be condemned with the World. With one Crosse God maketh two cures: the chastisement of sinnes past, the preuention of sinne to come. For though the eternall punishment of sinne (as it proceedeth from Iustice,) is fully pardoned in the sacrifice ⟨p. 824⟩of Christ: yet vvee are not (without serious iudging of our selues) exempted from the temporall chastisement of sinne; for this proceedeth onely from the loue of God, for our good. And this is the reason, that when Nathan told Dauid, 5from the Lord, that his sinnes were forgiuen: yet that the Sword (of chastisement) should not depart from his house: 6and that his Childe should surely die. For GOD, like a skilfull Physitian, seeing the soule to be poysoned vvith the setling of sinne; and knowing that the raigning of the Flesh vvill proue the ruine of the Spirit: ministreth the bitter pill of affliction, vvhereby the reliques of sinne is purged, ⟨p. 825⟩and the soule more soundly cured: the flesh is subdued, and the spirit is sanctified: Oh the odiousnesse of sinne, vvhich causeth God to chasten so seuerely his Children, whom otherwise hee loueth so deerely!
- *Deus suos percutit ut emendst. Hier. Come. in Esa. lib. 6. Deus calamitates infligit, non extingue re sed castigare nos cupiens. Basil. ser. 3. in divites.Deus suos percutit vt emend•t. Hier. Com. in Esa. lib. 6. Deus calamitates infligit, non extingue re sed castigare nos cupiens. Basil. ser. 3. in diuites.
- 2Psal. 119.71.
- 3Psal. 119.67.
- 41 Cor. 11.32
- 52 Sam. 12.10
- 6Verse 13.
