Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

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 ⟨p. 155⟩into a right Channel, the changing the Object of our Grief, viz. mourning for Sin instead of sorrowing for outward Trouble, and we are in the way to Happiness. Sensible Sorrow leads to Godly Sorrow. The natural is first, then the spiritual. Now the Despisers of God's Hand, that are unaffected with Judgments, are incapable of this Benefit. For if they do not feel the Blow, how shall they take notice of the Hand that strikes? If they are not softened with Sorrows, how shall they receive the Divine Impression? If they have no sense of his Displeasure, how shall they fear to offend him for the future? If the Medicine doth not work, how can it expel noxious Humours?

1. The Contempt of Chastenings, deprives us of all those Benefits which were intended by them. God's End in them is to imbitter Sin to our Taste, and make us disrelish that deadly Poison: for as, according to the Rules of Physick, 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 ⟨p. 155⟩into a right Channel, the changing the Object of our Grief, viz. mourning for Sin instead of sorrowing for outward Trouble, and we are in the way to Happiness. Sensible Sorrow leads to Godly Sorrow. The natural is first, then the spiritual. Now the Despisers of God's Hand, that are unaffected with Judgments, are incapable of this Benefit. For if they do not feel the Blow, how shall they take notice of the Hand that strikes? If they are not softened with Sorrows, how shall they receive the Divine Impression? If they have no sense of his Displeasure, how shall they fear to offend him for the future? If the Medicine doth not work, how can it expel noxious Humours?