Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

Prosperity furnishes the Carnal Appetites with delightful Objects, and Men are easily induced to neglect their Duty: like Children that forget their Lesson when they are at play. Sense that reigns in Beasts, and should serve in Men, is then predominant. But Affliction embitters the carnal Sweets, and is a proper Means to fix the Thoughts, and restore the Mind to its Right and Jurisdiction: as Blows and hard Usage bind up the ranging Fancy in distracted Persons; tames and tires them, and thereby reduces them to Sobriety. Thus God is often pleased, by Afflictions, to show Men their Transgressions, ¹to open their Ears to Discipline, ⟨p. 289⟩and effectually command them to return from their Iniquities. But without the Instruction of his Spirit joins with the Voice of the Rod, the utmost Effect of even sharp and long Afflictions is a forced and fading Repentance. Constrained Devotion is like Fire struck out of a Flint, hardly got, and soon gone. Thus 'tis said of the Israelites in the Wilderness, When he slew them, they sought him, they returned and sought early after God; but their Heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his Covenant. How many open Rebels have been awakened by the fear of Death? and when they have tasted and seen the Terrors of the Lord, what Addresses, what Submissions, what Promises have they made to God? but after their Reprieve, how soon have they forgot the past Terrors, and broke all the Bars of Reason, and of their Resolutions, and been as ⟨p. 290⟩unreformed as ever. The wise Man tells us, Bray a Fool in a Mortar, pound him in pieces, his Folly will remain in him.

Prosperity furnishes the Carnal Appetites with delightful Objects, and Men are easily induced to neglect their Duty: like Children that forget their Lesson when they are at play. Sense that reigns in Beasts, and should serve in Men, is then predominant. But Affliction imbitters the carnal Sweets, and is a proper Means to fix the Thoughts, and restore the Mind to its Right and Jurisdiction: as Blows and hard Usage bind up the ranging Fancy in distracted Persons; tames and tires them, and thereby reduces them to Sobriety. Thus God is often pleased, by Afflictions, to shew Men their Transgressions, ¹