(2.) Inconsiderateness of the End of the Divine Discipline, is a great degree of Contempt. The Evils that God inflicts are as real a part of his Providence, as the Blessings he bestows; as in the course of Nature the Darkness of the Night is by his Order, as well as the Light of the Day: therefore they are always sent for some wise and holy Design. Sometime, tho more rarely, they are only for trial, to exercise the Faith, Humility, Patience of eminent Saints; for otherwise God would lose in a great measure the Honour and Renown, and his Favourites the Reward of those Graces, Afflictions being the Sphere of their Activity. But for the most ⟨p. 137⟩part they are castigatory, to bring us to a sight and sense of our State, to render Sin more evident and odious to us. They are fitly expressed, by pouring from Vessel to Vessel, that discovers the Dregs and Sediment, and makes it offensive, that before was concealed. The least Affliction even to the Godly, is usually an Application of the Physician of Spirits for some growing Distemper: every Corrosive is for some proud Flesh that must be taken away. In short, they are deliberate Dispensations to cause Men to reflect upon their Works and Ways, and break off their Sins by sincere Obedience. Therefore we are commanded to hear the Voice of 1the Rod, and who hath appointed it. 'Tis a Preacher of Repentance, to lead us to the Knowledge and Consideration of our selves. The Distress of Joseph's Brethren was to revive their Memory of his Sorrows caused ⟨p. 138⟩by their Cruelty. Now when Men disregard the Embassy of the Rod, are unconvinceable, notwithstanding its lively Lessons, when they neither look up to him that strikes, nor within to the Cause that provokes his Displeasure; when they are careless to reform their Ways, and to comply with his holy Will, as if Afflictions were only common Accidents of this mutable State, the Effects of rash Fortune or blind Fate, without Design and Judgment, and not sent for their Amendment, this is a prodigious despising of God's Hand. For this reason the Scripture 2compares Men to the most inobservant Creatures, to the wild Asses Colt, the deaf Adder, to the silly Dove without Heart: and the Advantage is on the Beasts side, for their Inconsideration proceeds merely from the Incapacity of Matter, of which they are wholly composed to perform reflex Acts:
(2.) Inconsiderateness of the End of the Divine Discipline, is a great degree of Contempt. The Evils that God inflicts are as real a part of his Providence, as the Blessings he bestows; as in the course of Nature the Darkness of the Night is by his Order, as well as the Light of the Day: therefore they are always sent for some wise and holy Design. Sometime, tho more rarely, they are only for trial, to exercise the Faith, Humility, Patience of eminent Saints; for otherwise God would lose in a great measure the Honour and Renown, and his Favourites the Reward of those Graces, Affictions being the Sphere of their Activity. But for the most ⟨p. 137⟩part they are castigatory, to bring us to a sight and sense of our State, to render Sin more evident and odious to us. They are fitly exprest, by pouring from Vessel to Vessel, that discovers the Dregs and Sediment, and makes it offensive, that before was concealed. The least Affliction even to the Godly, is usually an Application of the Physician of Spirits for some growing Distemper: every Corrosive is for some proud Flesh that must be taken away. In short, they are deliberate Dispensations to cause Men to reflect upon their Works and Ways, and break off their Sins by sincere Obedience. Therefore we are commanded to hear the Voice of 1the Rod, and who hath appointed it. 'Tis a Preacher of Repentance, to lead us to the Knowledg and Consideration of our selves. The Distress of Joseph's Brethren was to revive their Memory of his Sorrows caused ⟨p. 138⟩by their Cruelty. Now when Men disregard the Embassy of the Rod, are unconvinceable, notwithstanding its lively Lessons, when they neither look up to him that strikes, nor within to the Cause that provokes his Displeasure; when they are careless to reform their Ways, and to comply with his holy Will, as if Afflictions were only common Accidents of this mutable State, the Effects of rash Fortune or blind Fate, without Design and Judgment, and not sent for their Amendment, this is a prodigious despising of God's Hand. For this reason the Scripture 2compares Men to the most inobservant Creatures, to the wild Asses Colt, the deaf Adder, to the silly Dove without Heart: and the Advantage is on the Beasts side, for their Inconsideration proceeds meerly from the Incapacity of Matter, of which they are wholly compos'd to perform reflex Acts:
- 1Mic. 6. 9.
- 2Job 11. 12. Psal. 58. 4. Hosea 7. 11.
