Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

5. Here is comfort in afflictions. As a sovereign, he is the Author of Afflictions, as a sovereign, he can be the remover of them; he can command the waters of affliction to go so far and no farther. If he speaks the Word, a disease shall depart, as soon as a servant shall from your presence with a Nod. If we are banished from one place, he can command a shelter for us in another. If he orders Moab, a Nation that had no great kindness for his people, to let his outcasts dwell with them, they shall entertain them, and afford them sanctuary. Isaiah 16.4. Again God chasteneth as a sovereign, but teacheth as a Father. Psal. 99.12. The exercise of his Authority is not without an exercise of his goodness. He doth not correct for his own pleasure, or the Creature's torment, but for the Creature's instruction; though the rod be in the hand of a sovereign, yet it is tinctured with the kindness of divine bowels. He can order them as a sovereign to mortify our flesh, and try our Faith. In the severest tempest, the Lord that raised the Wind against us, which shattered the ship, and tore its rigging, can change that contrary wind for a more happy one, to drive us into the Port.

5. Here is comfort in afflictions. As a soveraign, he is the Author of Afflictions, as a soveraign, he can be the remover of them; he can command the waters of affliction to go so far and no farther. If he speaks the Word, a disease shall depart, as soon as a servant shall from your presence with a Nod. If we are banisht from one place, he can command a shelter for us in another. If he orders Moab, a Nation that had no great kindness for his people, to let his outcasts dwell with them, they shall entertain them, and afford them sanctuary. Isaiah 16.4. Again God chastneth as a soveraign, but teacheth as a Father. Psal. 99.12. The exercise of his Authority is not without an exercise of his goodness. He doth not correct for his own pleasure, or the Creature's torment, but for the Creature's instruction; though the rod be in the hand of a soveraign, yet it is tinctur'd with the kindness of divine bowels. He can order them as a soveraign to mortifie our flesh, and try our Faith. In the severest tempest, the Lord that rais'd the Wind against us, which shatter'd the ship, and tore its rigging, can change that contrary wind for a more happy one, to drive us into the Port.