I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

As Suffering times are teaching times, so suffering times are sin-discovering times; Afflictions recall sins past, and prevent sin to come; Afflictions show us the emptiness of the Creature, the fullness of God, the vileness of sin. When Adonibezek had his Thumbs and Toes cut off, he could remember his own sin. You see how it is in Winter, when the Leaves are off the Hedges, you can see where the Birds Nests were; when the Leaves were on in Summer time, you could not see those Nests: And so in prosperous times men do not see the Nests of their hearts and lives; but when their Leaves are off, then their Nests are seen. Suffering times, are sin-discovering times.

As Suffering times are teaching times, so suffering times are sindiscovering times; Afflictions recal sins past, and prevent sin to come; Afflictions shew us the emptiness of the Creature, the fulness of God, the vileness of sin. When Adonibezek had his Thumbs and Toes cut off, he could remember his own sin. You see how it is in Winter, when the Leaves are off the Hedges, you can see where the Birds Nests were; when the Leaves were on in Summer time, you could not see those Nests: And so in prosperous times men do not see the Nests of their hearts and lives; but when their Leaves are off, then their Nests are seen. Suffering times, are sin-discovering times.

As Suffering times, are sin-discovering times; so Suffering times, are Self-bethinking times. You see many a man run on in the day of his Prosperity, and never bethinks himself. When the Prodigal was pinched, then he bethought himself; and Manasseh in Prison, then he bethought himself: and saith Solomon, praying for the People in Adversity, If then they shall bethink themselves. There is many a man that (I may say) doth owe his Conversion to his Affliction, and can say. If I had not been afflicted, I had never been converted. Suffering times, are Self-bethinking times.

As Suffering times, are sin-discovering times; so Suffering times, are Self-bethinking times. You see many a man run on in the day of his Prosperity, and never bethinks himself. When the Prodigal was pinched, then he bethought himself; and Manasses in Prison, then he bethought himself: and saith Solomon, praying for the People in Adversity, If then they shal bethink themselves. There is many a man that (I may say) doth owe his Convertion to his Affliction, and can say. If I had not been afflicted, I had never been converted. Suffering times, are Self-bethinking times.