CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

In the fourth general place,¹ Christs care and love is seen in sanctifying and fitting thy troubles that they shall be for thy spiritual benefit; Whatsoever may be done to thy estate or life, yet nothing shall hurt the soul: Thus the Prophet, This is the fruit of Jacobs trouble to purge away his sin, Isaiah 27.9. and Rom. 8. All things work to the good of them whom God loveth: Christ that hath so loved thee would never let this or that come upon thee, did he not intend to turn it for thy spiritual good? This made David say, Before he was afflicted he went astray, Psal. 119. And when both these go together, Afflictions and Sanctification, David calls it a Blessedness, not a misery, Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, and teachest thy way, Psal. 94 12. If God teacheth thee by thy afflictions the bitterness of sin, the duty of Faith and weanedness of Spirit from the world; Oh it's a blessed sickness, a blessed loss, Thank God that ever he laid his hand upon thee, Though it seemed grievous to flesh, and thou wert apt to be impatient, yet nothing under Heaven was better for thee; Not that we are to pray for afflictions; It's disputed whether we may or no, but we may not, because they are an evil, and so no fit object of our desires, and in themselves they do no good unless sanctified, but if the Lord chastise us we are to submit, and therefore when Jeremiah prayeth, Jer 10 21. Correct me but not in thy wrath, It's a concession or submission: Lord, if thou wilt correct me, and it cannot be otherwise, then do it with much mercy and love; Do not then make thy afflictions an argument of Gods withdrawing or leaving of thee, but rather of love to thee; Christ loves his Disciples dearly, yet not so as to keep them from dangers, he will let them be in the world, and put them to hardship, only he will then take the more care of them: But the godly heart doth make this ordinary Objection.

In the fourth general place,¹ Christs care and love is seen in sanctifying and fitting thy troubles that they shall be for thy spiritual benefit; Whatsoever may be done to thy estate or life, yet nothing shall hurt the soul: Thus the Prophet, This is the fruit of Iacobs trouble to purge away his sinne,