Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

(2.) 'Tis a strong Cordial against fainting, to consider that by virtue of the Paternal Relation he scourges every Son whom he receives: for no Troubles are more afflictive and stinging than those that are unexpected. Now when we are assured that there is no Son whom the Heavenly Father doth not chasten, we are less surprised when we meet with Crosses. Indeed there is hardly any kind of Affliction that may befall us, but we have some instance in Scripture of the Saints suffering the same. Are we poor and mean in the World? we should consider that Poverty with Holiness is a Divine Complexion: Jesus Christ the holy and beloved Son of God, had not where to lay his Head. Are we under bodily Distempers? good Hezekiah was struck with an uncomfortable ⟨p. 174⟩Disease as to the Quality of it; and Gaius had a flourishing Soul in a languishing Body. Are our dear Relations taken away? Aaron and David lost some of their Sons by terrible Strokes. Are our Spirits wounded with the sense of God's Displeasure? Job and Heman were under strong Terrors, yet the Favourites of Heaven. Briefly, how many most dear to God were called forth to extreme and bloody Trials for Defence of the Truth? How many Deaths did they endure in one Torment? How many Torments in one Death? yet they were so far from fainting, that the more their Pains were exasperated, the more their Courage and Joy was shining and conspicuous; as the Face of the Heavens is never more serene and clear, than when the sharpest North Wind blows. 'Tis the Apostle's Inference, Seeing ⟨p. 175⟩we are compassed with such a Cloud of Witnesses, let us run with Patience the Race that is set before us.

(2.) 'Tis a strong Cordial against fainting, to consider that by virtue of the Paternal Relation he scourges every Son whom he receives: for no Troubles are more afflictive and stinging than those that are unexpected. Now when we are assured that there is no Son whom the Heavenly Father doth not chasten, we are less surprized when we meet with Crosses. Indeed there is hardly any kind of Affliction that may befal us, but we have some instance in Scripture of the Saints suffering the same. Are we poor and mean in the World? we should consider that Poverty with Holiness is a Divine Complexion: Jesus Christ the holy and beloved Son of God, had not where to lay his Head. Are we under bodily Distempers? good Hezekiah was struck with an uncomfortable