Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

Add further, upon another account Reverence is due to God's Chastenings: for when Love is the Motive that incites one to give us Counsel, tho it be mixed with Reproofs, and his Prudence is not great, yet a Respect is due to the Affection. Now God who is only wise, chastises Men from a desire ⟨p. 169⟩to make them better and happy; he intends primarily to refine, not to consume them by Afflictions: so that a serious regard to his Hand is the most just and necessary Duty of the Creature. Briefly, every Chastisement should leave deep and permanent Impressions upon us; the Sense of God's Displeasure should make our Hearts mournful and mollified, broken and contrite, that his Will may be done by us on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Add further, upon another account Reverence is due to God's Chastenings: for when Love is the Motive that incites one to give us Counsel, tho it be mixt with Reproofs, and his Prudence is not great, yet a Respect is due to the Affection. Now God who is only wise, chastises Men from a desire ⟨p. 169⟩to make them better and happy; he intends primarily to refine, not to consume them by Afflictions: so that a serious regard to his Hand is the most just and necessary Duty of the Creature. Briefly, every Chastisement should leave deep and permanent Impressions upon us; the Sense of God's Displeasure should make our Hearts mournful and mollified, broken and contrite, that his Will may be done by us on Earth as it is in Heaven.

2. Let us always preserve an humble Dependence and firm Hope on God, for a blessed Issue out of all our Troubles: The Support and Tranquillity of the Soul ariseth from hence. Christian Patience suffers all things as well as Charity, being encouraged by a continual expectation of Good from him. ⟨p. 170⟩Patience confirms all other Graces, and is to the whole Armour of God, what the Temper is to material Weapons, that keeps them from breaking in the Combat. Now to maintain a constant Hope in Affliction, 'tis necessary to consider the Reason of the Exhortation as 'tis admirably amplified by the Apostle.