For the Lord correcteth him whom he loveth.] Vers. 6 This reason seems not to be very firm. Objection. For God doth indifferently punish the reprobates as well as the elect: and his rods do oftener declare his wrath than his love. For the holy Scripture on the one side so speaks: and experience on the other side confirms it. Answer. But when the word of God is directed to the faithful, then we must not wonder if it only speak of this use, and fruit of chastisements which they feel. For howsoever God shows himself to be a severe & angry Judge against the reprobates as oft as he punisheth them; yet he respects none other end in correcting his chosen, 1but thereby to provide for their salvation: which undoubtedly is a sign of his fatherly good will. Moreover, because the reprobates know not that they are governed by the hand of God, they therefore think most an end that they are afflicted by chance. As if a rebellious child, forsaking his fathers house, should get himself a great way off, and there become a vagabond, and should there feel the smart of hunger and cold, or other poverties: this indeed were a worthy punishment which he well deserved for his folly, that so he might learn to his costs what it is to disobey a good father: and yet notwithstanding he would not for all this acknowledge that this were a fatherly correction. So the unbelievers, although they are, as you would ⟨p. 293⟩say, given over, and banished from God, & from his house, yet they perceive not that it is the hand of God that toucheth them. Let us remember then that we cannot otherwise feel the love of God towards us in the middest of his rods and chastisements, unless we be well persuaded, that they are so many fatherly corrections and scourges, by which God chastiseth us for our sins. But there can nothing of all this come into the minds of the reprobates, 2because they are of fugitive spirits: that is to say, they care for nothing, but that they may have always their swing, and might never be drawn into Gods presence, to appear before him: add yet hereunto that judgement must begin at the house of God, 1. Pet. 4.17. Wherefore, howsoever God do indifferently punish as well the strangers as his own household;
For the Lord correcteth him whom he loueth.] Vers. 6 This reason seemes not to be very firme. Obiection. For God doth indifferently punish the reprobates as well as the elect: and his roddes doe oftner declare his wrath than his loue. For the holy Scripture on the one side so speakes: and experience on the other side confirmes it. Answere. But when the word of God is directed to the faithfull, then wee must not wonder if it onely speake of this vse, and fruite of chastisements which they feele. For howsoeuer God shews himselfe to be a seuere & angrie Iudge against the reprobates as oft as hee punisheth them; yet he respects none other end in correcting his chosen, 1but thereby to prouide for their saluation: which vndoubtedly is a signe of his fatherly good will. Moreouer, because the reprobates know not that they are gouerned by the hand of God, they therefore thinke most an end that they are afflicted by chance. As if a rebellious childe, forsaking his fathers house, should get himselfe a great way off, and there become a vagabond, and should there feele the smart of hunger and colde, or other pouerties: this indeede were a worthie punishment which hee well deserued for his follie, that so he might learne to his costs what it is to disobey a good father: and yet notwithstanding he would not for all this acknowledge that this were a fatherly correction. So the vnbeleeuers, although they are, as you would ⟨p. 293⟩say, giuen ouer, and banished from God, & from his house, yet they perceiue not that it is the hand of God that toucheth them. Let vs remember then that we cannot otherwise feele the loue of God towards vs in the middest of his rods and chastisements, vnlesse wee be well perswaded, that they are so many fatherly corrections and scourges, by which God chastiseth vs for our sinnes. But there can nothing of all this come into the mindes of the reprobates, 2because they are of fugitiue spirits: that is to say, they care for nothing, but that they may haue alwaies their swindge, and might neuer be drawne into Gods presence, to appeare before him: adde yet hereunto that iudgement must begin at the house of God, 1. Pet. 4.17. Wherefore, howsoeuer God doe indifferently punish as well the strangers as his owne household;
- 1God hath no other end in afflicting the elect, but thereby to provide for their salvation.God hath no other end in afflicting the elect, but thereby to prouide for their saluation.
- 2The reason why the • ked receive benefit by • flictions.The reason vvhy the • ked receiue benefit by • flictions.
