This we see proved in this text, where God dealeth with David as a father with his own son: First, letting him choose his own rod, when of necessity he must be corrected:1 Secondly, he giveth him warning before hand, that the plague might not overtake him on a sudden, which would wonderfully have discomforted him: Thirdly, he telleth him how long it should continue, so that he was sure three days would be the longest. Which serveth first for singular comfort unto Gods children that do bewail their sins,2 and pass sentence upon themselves as well as they can: if they go through with that work, the Lord will give them a comfortable and speedy deliverance: or if it be requisite that they should feel Gods hand upon them or theirs in any more grievous manner, yet the Lord will deal with them in some sort as he did here with David: for first they shall have warning thereof before hand, and so be better prepared and armed for it. And further, if they strive to humble their hearts before the Lord, though they have not the choice of their particular scourge, yet it shall be as well with them in effect: for although at first they think the rod very smart, and every blow two, yet when they are grown to be stronger men in Christ, they shall be driven to confess, that if they had chosen their own rods, there could have ⟨p. 33⟩been none in the world so fit for them as those wherewith the Lord hath scourged them: So that they shall be able not only to say with the Prophet, It is good for me that I have been afflicted; but good for me that I was whipped with these and these rods, yea and that I received thus many strokes from the Lords merciful hand, No cross could have been invented to do me more good, then poverty, or disgrace, or ill neighbours, or any the like, according as Gods servants are severally tried. If God should have put it to Abraham's and Jacobs choice, they would rather have parted with any outward thing, then with their children, that were as dear unto them as their life:
This we see proued in this text, where God dealeth with Dauid as a father with his owne sonne: First, letting him chuse his owne rod, when of necessitie he must be corrected:1 Secondly, he giueth him warning before hand, that the plague might not ouertake him on a sudden, which would wonderfully haue discomforted him: Thirdly, he telleth him how long it should continue, so that he was sure three daies would be the longest. Which serueth first for singular comfort vnto Gods children that doe bewaile their sinnes,2 and passe sentence vpon themselues as well as they can: if they goe thorow with that worke, the Lord wil giue them a comfortable and speedie deliuerance: or if it be requisite that they should feele Gods hand vpon them or theirs in any more grieuous manner, yet the Lord will deale with them in some sort as he did heere with Dauid: for first they shall haue warning thereof before hand, and so be better prepared and armed for it. And further, if they striue to humble their hearts before the Lord, though they haue not the choyce of their particular scourge, yet it shall be as well with them in effect: for although at first they thinke the rod very smart, and euery blow two, yet when they are growne to be stronger men in Christ, they shall be driuen to confesse, that if they had chosen their owne rods, there could haue ⟨p. 33⟩beene none in the world so fit for them as those wherewith the Lord hath scourged them: So that they shall be able not onely to say with the Prophet, It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted; but good for me that I was whipped with these and these rods, yea and that I receiued thus many strokes from the Lords mercifull hand, No crosse could haue beene inuented to doe me more good, then pouerty, or disgrace, or ill neighbours, or any the like, according as Gods seruants are seuerally tried. If God should haue put it to Abrahams and Iacobs choyse, they would rather haue parted with any outward thing, then with their children, that were as deare vnto them as their life:
- 1The time being expired, this point was briefly handled.
- 2Use. 1.Vse. 1.
