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

And in the Second place. This will appear also, if you consider, Whence their Afflictions come. If all the Sufferings of Gods People do come from Divine Love, the Love of God in Christ to them, then have they no reason to be discouraged, though they be much afflicted: every Rod, is a Rod of Rosemary to them, fruits of their Fathers Love: and if you look into Heb. 12. ye shall find, both the thing proved, and the Inference: The thing is proved, at ver. 6. For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth: Which he illustrates by a similitude. Suppose a man have two Sons; one a Bastard, and the other Legitimate; he will rather give Education, and Correction to the Legitimate Son, and neglect the Bastard: and saith the Apostle, verse 8. If ye be without Chastisement, then are ye Bastards, and not Sons. What then? verse 12. Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees: As if the Apostle should say, If all the Sufferings, and Afflictions, and Chastisements of the Saints, do proceed from Love, then have they no reason to hang down their hands, or heads. But so it is, That all their Sufferings come from Love, and therefore no reason for their Discouragements.

And in the Second place. This wil appear also, if you consider, Whence their Afflictions come. If al the Sufferings of Gods People do come from Divine Love, the Love of God in Christ to them, then have they no reason to be discouraged, though they be much afflicted: every Rod, is a Rod of Rosemary to them, fruits of their Fathers Love: and if you look into Heb. 12. ye shal find, both the thing proved, and the Inference: The thing is proved, at ver. 6. For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth: Which he illustrates by a similitude. Suppose a man have two Sons; one a Bastard, and the other Legitimate; he wil rather give Education, and Correction to the Legitimate Son, and neglect the Bastard: and saith the Apostle, verse 8. If ye be without Chastisement, then are ye Bastards, and not Sons. What then? verse 12. Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees: As if the Apostle should say, If al the Sufferings, and Afflictions, and Chastisements of the Saints, do proceed from Love, then have they no reason to hang down their hands, or heads. But so it is, That all their Sufferings come from Love, and therefore no reason for their Discouragements.