The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

3. And those that have some esteem of Holiness, and yet neglect the duty which should procure the exercise and increase of grace, do make correction burdensome by making it unprofitable to them. For to hear that they may be gainers by affliction, and to find that they are not, will not reconcile them to it. Whereas if they had really got the benefit, it would quiet them, and comfort them, and make them patient, and thankful to their Father. What have you to show that you gained by your sufferings? Are you really more mortified, more penitent, more humble, more heavenly, more ⟨p. 498⟩obedient, more patient than you were before? If you are so, you cannot possibly think that it hath been to your loss to be afflicted: For no one that hath these graces can so undervalue them, as to think that worldly prosperity or ease is better. But if you have not such gain to show, what wonder if you are weary of the medicine which healeth not? and if, when you have made it do you no good, you complain of it, when it is your selves, that you should complain of. If you could say, that before you were afflicted, you went astray, but now you have learnt and kept Gods precepts, you might then say by experience, It is good for me that I was afflicted, Psal. 119.67, 71. And men are taught by natural self-love, not to think ill of that which doth that which doth them good, if by experience they know it. You will then confess that God in very faithfulness afflicteth you, Psal. 119.75.

3. And those that have some esteem of Holiness, and yet neglect the duty which should procure the exercise and increase of grace, do make correction burdensome by making it unprofitable to them. For to hear that they may be gainers by affliction, and to find that they are not, will not reconcile them to it. Whereas if they had really got the benefit, it would quiet them, and comfort them, and make them patient, and thankful to their Father. What have you to shew that you gained by your sufferings? Are you really more mortified, more penitent, more humble, more heavenly, more ⟨p. 498⟩obedient, more patient than you were before? If you are so, you cannot possibly think that it hath been to your loss to be afflicted: For no one that hath these graces can so undervalue them, as to think that worldly prosperity or ease is better. But if you have not such gain to shew, what wonder if you are weary of the medicine which healeth not? and if, when you have made it do you no good, you complain of it, when it is your selves, that you should complain of. If you could say, that before you were afflicted, you went astray, but now you have learnt and kept Gods precepts, you might then say by experience, It is good for me that I was afflicted,