Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

The Apostle represents the special ¹Prerogative of God as the Father of Spirits, and so hath a nearer Claim to us than the Fathers of our Flesh, and that he is not liable to those Imperfections that attend the Earthly Relations. They for a few days chastened us for their own Pleasure. Human Love is a troubled irregular Passion, mixed with Ignorance, and prone to Error in the Excess or Defect. Sometimes Parents are indulgent, and by a cruel Compassion spare their Children when they are faulty: sometimes they correct without ⟨p. 177⟩Cause, sometimes when the Reason is just, yet they err in the manner or measure of the Correction, so that their Children are discouraged. But in God there is a perfect Union of Wisdom and Love, of Discretion and Tenderness; his Affection is without the least Imperfection. His Will is always guided by infinite Wisdom. If his Children offend, he will chastise ²them with the Rod of Men, that is, moderately: for as in Scripture things are magnified by the Epithet, Divine or of God, so they are lessened by the Epithet, Human. Accordingly the Apostle declares to the Corinthians, that no Temptation had befallen them, but such ³as is common to Man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to ⟨p. 178⟩bear it. As a prudent Physician consults the Strength of the Patient as well as the Quality of the Disease, and proportions his Medicine; so all the bitter Ingredients, their Mixture and Measure, are dispensed by the wise Prescription of God, according to the degrees of Strength that are in his People.

The Apostle represents the special ¹Prerogative of God as the Father of Spirits, and so hath a nearer Claim to us than the Fathers of our Flesh, and that he is not liable to those Imperfections that attend the Earthly Relations. They for a few days chastened us for their own Pleasure. Human Love is a troubled irregular Passion, mixt with Ignorance, and prone to Error in the Excess or Defect. Sometimes Parents are indulgent, and by a cruel Compassion spare their Children when they are faulty: sometimes they correct without