Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

The Apostle specifies the immediate End of God in his Chastenings: But he for our Profit, that we may be partakers of his Holiness. This is the supreme Excellency of the Divine Nature, and our Conformity to it is so valuable, that it renders Afflictions not only tolerable, but so far desirable as they contribute to it. In the present State our Graces are imperfect, and our Conformity to the Divine Purity is like the Resemblance of the Sun in a watery Cloud, very ⟨p. 179⟩much beneath the Perfection and Radiancy of that great Light. Now God is pleased to fashion us according to his Image by Afflictions. As a Statue is cut by the Artificer, to bring it into a beautiful Form.

The Apostle specifies the immediate End of God in his Chastenings: But he for our Profit, that we may be partakers of his Holiness. This is the supream Excellency of the Divine Nature, and our Conformity to it is so valuable, that it renders Afflictions not only tolerable, but so far desirable as they contribute to it. In the present State our Graces are imperfect, and our Conformity to the Divine Purity is like the Resemblance of the Sun in a watry Cloud, very ⟨p. 179⟩much beneath the Perfection and Radiancy of that great Light. Now God is pleased to fashion us according to his Image by Afflictions. As a Statue is cut by the Artificer, to bring it into a beautiful Form.

He is pleased to bring us into divers Temptations to try our Faith, to work in us Patience, to inflame our Prayers, to mortify our Carnal Desires, to break those voluntary Bonds whereby we are fettered to the Earth, that we may live with those Affections wherewith others die. And certainly if we make a true Judgment of things, we have not the least cause to suspect the Love of God when he chastises us, to take away Sin the only abominable Object of his Hatred and deep Detestation, and to render us Partakers of the Divine Nature. ⟨p. 180⟩