A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects

3. What an argument for patience under punishments is here? The continuance of them doth not hinder our Salvation. Shall a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sin? For such a punishment that doth not hinder his eternal welfare, but by the grace of God, and the exercise of Faith, rather promote it? God promised as well as threatened: both his mercy and righteousness directs him to that which is most for his honour and our good. Let us not by any impatience charge infinite wisdom with blindness or unrighteousness. They were punishments at first, but by Faith in Christ, the deportment of a judge is changed into that of a Father. Drusius hath an observation, Psal. 56.10. In God will I praise his word, in the Lord will I praise his word. The first word Elohim is a name belonging to God as a judg, the 2d word Jehovah is a name of mercy; I will praise God, whether he deal with me in a way of justice, or in a way of mercy, when he hath thunder in his voice as well as when he hath honey under his tongue. Oh how should we praise God, and pleasure our selves by such a frame? When our distresses lie hard upon us, we should justify Gods holiness. So the Psalmist, or rather Christ in the bearing our punishment, Psal. 22.1. But thou art holy, when he expostulates with God why he had forsaken him, justifies Gods holiness. Howsoever thou dealest with me, thou art holy in all thy ways. Thou dost me no wrong; why should I complain when holiness and hatred of sin guides thee, in all those actings with me?

3. What an argument for patience under punishments is here? The continuance of them doth not hinder our Salvation. Shall a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sin? For such a punishment that doth not hinder his eternal welfare, but by the grace of God, and the exercise of Faith, rather promote it? God promised as well as threatned: both his mercy and righteousness directs him to that which is most for his honour and our good. Let us not by any impatience charge infinite wisdom with blindness or unrighteousness. They were punishments at first, but by Faith in Christ, the deportment of a judge is changed into that of a Father. Drusius hath an observation, Psal. 56.10. In God will I praise his word, in the Lord will I praise his word. The first word Elohim is a name belonging to God as a judg, the 2d word Jehovah is a name of mercy; I will praise God, whether he deal with me in a way of justice, or in a way of mercy, when he hath thunder in his voice as well as when he hath hony under his tongue. Oh how should we praise God, and pleasure our selves by such a frame? When our distresses ly hard upon us, we should justify Gods holiness. So the Psalmist, or rather Christ in the bearing our punishment,