The first ground therefore of Scripture, that may be had out of the treasury 1thereof, is this, viz. That all the tribulations we fall into, they are precisely determined by God as a Father out of much love, both in regard of the beginning of them, the degree of them, as also the continuance of them. And if this truth be well ruminated and digested, here is matter of comfort enough; here is more oil then we have vessels to receive. This the Scripture doth frequently insinuate, Matth. 5. Your heavenly Father knoweth what you have need of. But especially Heb. 12. 9, 10. the Apostle declareth at large, That because we are sons, because God loveth us, and is a Father, therefore he doth chasten us; and so if we give reverence to earthly parents, because they correct us, as the Apostle implieth, How much more ought we to bless God for his fatherly love to us in correcting of us? Out of very faithfulness, saith David, thou hast afflicted me, for before that came, he went astray. So then, he who is taught by Scripture, he seeth as much of love, as much of a Father in these tribulations, as in any outward mercies. Whereas therefore they said, If thou art the Son of God come down from the cross: the godly man saith on the contrary, because he is the Son of God, he will ascend up to the Cross, when his Father commands him: hence afflictions are spoken of by way of gift, To you it is given to suffer; and they are called, The precious trial of our faith. Say then as Christ, Shall I not drink of the Cup which my Father hath given me? And because he is a Father, and he makes his afflictions medicinal, therefore they are stinted and measured by him, both for the time, when they shall begin, thy tribulations fall not out when the Devil and thy enemies would bring them upon thee; but when Gods time is come, as you see they could never touch Christ, till he said, His time was come. So that as God is said to determine the bounds of mens habitations, so he hath also of the afflictions of his children; they come not sooner or later than thy Father in wisdom had appointed. Now as winter and cold is necessary in its season, as well as Summer in its season, and the night hath its use as well as the day: Thus a time of tribulation is as necessary, as a time of rest and quietness. There is a great deal of mercy to thee in the very time of thy trouble;
The first ground therefore of Scripture, that may be had out of the treasury 1thereof, is this, viz. That all the tribulations we fall into, they are precisely determined by God as a Father out of much love, both in regard of the beginning of them, the degree of them, as also the continuance of them. And if this truth be well rumiated and digested, here is matter of comfort enough; here is more oyl then we have vessels to receive. This the Scripture doth frequently insinuate, Matth. 5. Your heavenly Father knoweth what you have need of. But especially Heb. 12. 9, 10. the Apostle declareth at large, That because we are sons, because God loveth us, and is a Father, therefore he doth chasten us; and so if we give reverence to earthly parents, because they correct us, as the Apostle implieth, How much more ought we to bless God for his fatherly love to us in correcting of us? Out of very faithfulness, saith David, thou hast afflicted me, for before that came, he went astray. So then, he who is taught by Scripture, he seeth as much of love, as much of a Father in these tribulations, as in any outward mercies. Whereas therefore they said, If thou art the Sonne of God come down from the crosse: the godly man saith on the contrary, because he is the Son of God, he will ascend up to the Cross, when his Father commands him: hence afflictions are spoken of by way of gift, To you it is given to suffer; and they are called, The precious trial of our faith. Say then as Christ, Shall I not drink of the Cup which my Father hath given me? And because he is a Father, and he makes his afflictions medicinal, therefore they are stinted and measured by him, both for the time, when they shall begin, thy tribulations fall not out when the Devil and thy enemies would bring them upon thee; but when Gods time is come, as you see they could never touch Christ, till he said, His time was come. So that as God is said to determine the bounds of mens habitations, so he hath also of the afflictions of his children; they come not sooner or later than thy Father in wisdome had appointed. Now as winter and cold is necessary in its season, as well as Summer in its season, and the night hath its use as well as the day: Thus a time of tribulation is as necessary, as a time of rest and quietness. There is a great deal of mercy to thee in the very time of thy trouble;
- 1What grounds of comfort the Scriptures afford unto us.
