Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

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⟩And the present peaceable Fruit of Righteousness is the Product in those who are duly exercised by their Troubles. It is an Allusion to the Reward of the Conquerors in the Olympic Games, who had a Crown of Olives, the Emblem and Shadow of Peace. But true Peace, a Divine Calm in the Conscience, shall be the Recompense of all that exercise their Graces suitable to an afflicted State. In short, the Apostle assures Believers, ¹that they are chastened of the Lord, to prevent their Condemnation with the World. The correcting Rod delivers them from Hell. This Consideration changes Thorns into Roses, and extracts Honey out of Wormwood: if the way be stony or showery that leads to Blessedness, a Christian should willingly walk in it. To conclude; from the Consideration of what ⟨p. 181⟩the Scripture declares concerning Temporal Evils, let us lift up the Hands that hang down, and the feeble Knees; and make straight Paths for our Feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed: i. e. In our Affliction, let us take Courage and Resolution from the Promises, and live in a holy Conformity to God's Will, that the weak or faint may be restored.

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⟩