Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

Secondly, I Shall proceed to prove, 'tis the best Wisdom not to despise God's Chastenings, nor faint under them. I will not insist upon the Consideration that 'tis the Counsel of the supreme Wisdom to us, nor that 'tis the avoiding the vicious Extremes, which is the chiefest Point of Moral Prudence: but it is the only way to prevent the greatest Mischiefs that ⟨p. 154⟩will otherwise befall us. 'Tis said, he that is wise is profitable to himself, that is either in obtaining Good, or preventing Evils. Now it will appear how pernicious those Extremes ¹are, by considering:

Secondly, I Shall proceed to prove, 'tis the best Wisdom not to despise God's Chastenings, nor faint under them. I will not insist upon the Consideration that 'tis the Counsel of the supream Wisdom to us, nor that 'tis the avoiding the vicious Extreams, which is the chiefest Point of Moral Prudence: but it is the only way to prevent the greatest Mischiefs that ⟨p. 154⟩will otherwise befal us. 'Tis said, he that is wise is profitable to himself, that is either in obtaining Good, or preventing Evils. Now it will appear how pernicious those Extreams ¹are, by considering:

1. 1Job 22. 21.

1. The Contempt of Chastenings, deprives us of all those Benefits which were intended by them. God's End in them is to embitter Sin to our Taste, and make us disrelish that deadly Poison: for as, according to the Rules of Physic, Contraries are cured by Contraries; so Sin that prevails by Pleasure, by something delightful to the Carnal Part, is mortified by what is afflictive to Sense. Repentance is a Duty that best complies with Affliction: for when the Spirit is made sad, and brought to the Sobriety of Consideration, it will more readily reflect upon the true Causes of Troubles: When the Springs overflow, 'tis but directing the Stream