The great duty of resignation to the divine will in afflictions enforced from the…

First; All his Sons are under the Discipline of the Rod: and who would be so unhappy as to be exempted from that number for all the prosperity of the World? Afflictions sanctified, are the conspicuous Seal of their Adoption, and Title to Heaven. And who would forfeit the honour of that Adoption, and lose the benefit annexed to it, the eternal Inheritance, rather than patiently bear his Fatherly Chastisements? Others that enjoy a perpetual Spring of Pleasure here, are declared Bastards and not Sons: they are indeed within the compass of his Universal Providence, but not of that peculiar ⟨p. 51⟩care that belongs to his Sacred and Select Progeny. His Corrections are an Argument of his Authority as our Father, and an assurance that we are his Children: this should induce us not only with submiss temper of Soul, but with thankfulness to receive the sharpest Correction from the hands of our Heavenly Father. This was the reason of our Saviour's meek yielding himself to the violence and cruelty of his Enemies. The Cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

First; All his Sons are under the Discipline of the Rod: and who would be so unhappy as to be exempted from that number for all the prosperity of the World? Afflictions sanctified, are the conspicuous Seal of their Adoption, and Title to Heaven. And who would forfeit the honour of that Adoption, and lose the benefit annext to it, the eternal Inheritance, rather than patiently bear his Fatherly Chastisements? Others that enjoy a perpetual Spring of Pleasure here, are declared Bastards and not Sons: they are indeed within the compass of his Universal Providence, but not of that peculiar ⟨p. 51⟩care that belongs to his Sacred and Select Progeny. His Corrections are an Argument of his Authority as our Father, and an assurance that we are his Children: this should induce us not only with submiss temper of Soul, but with thankfulness to receive the sharpest Correction from the hands of our Heavenly Father. This was the reason of our Saviour's meek yielding himself to the violence and cruelty of his Enemies. The Cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?