1. Under work or duty, be it never so great, grievous, troublesome, or dangerous.
2. Under the with-holdings of mercy, be they never so long detained.
3. Under afflictions, be they, or may they be never so grievous: whether
1. Public afflictions, the afflictions of the Church of God: Suppose Zion is now clad in Sack-cloth, there's a time coming when she shall be arrayed in Scarlet. When the Whores Scarlet shall be turned into Rags, the Churches Rags shall be turned into Gold. Or,
2. Personal afflictions, faint not under them, be it this or that, or the other, be they never so great, never so long, or never so many. But, what shall I do to bear up my spirit, and to preserve me from fainting?
1. Live in the holy dependence, and filial fear of the great God: He that fears God most, to be sure will faint least.
2. Strengthen Grace: There are two graces to be strengthened, viz. Strengthen Faith; I had fainted unless I had believed, &c. Strengthen Patience; dejection of soul usually comes from impatience.
3. Be much in Prayer: Is any man afflicted? let him (not go and sinfully murmur and complain, but let him) pray.
4. Make use of heart-strengthening considerations; and that is,
1. Turn over the promises: They are left on purpose, as Gods bottle, his Vial of Cordials to keep the soul from fainting.
2. What ever befalls, remember it proceeds from Gods love.
⟨image 172⟩3. All that God aims at, is to do thee good.
4. Be the affection never so great, 'tis as necessary as prosperity, as health: This thy Physic is as necessary as thy food.
5. The issue of all, a Crown of glory: these light afflictions which are but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory. And therefore if so be there be such principles from which afflictions flow, and such ends to which they are managed: It is no wonder Christ will not pray that we may be taken out of the world from affliction, but keep in this world from the evil: So we fall on
1. Under work or duty, be it never so great, grievous, troublesome, or dangerous.
2. Under the with-holdings of mercy, be they never so long detained.
3. Under afflictions, be they, or may they be never so grievous: whether
1. Publick afflictions, the afflictions of the Church of God: Suppose Sion is now clad in Sack-cloth, there's a time coming when she shall be arrayed in Scarlet. When the Whores Scarlet shall be turned into Rags, the Churches Rags shall be turned into Gold. Or,
2. Personal afflictions, faint not under them, be it this or that, or the other, be they never so great, never so long, or never so many. But, what shall I do to bear up my spirit, and to preserve me from fainting?
1. Live in the holy dependence, and filial fear of the great God: He that fears God most, to be sure will faint least.
2. Strengthen Grace: There are two graces to be strengthened, viz. Strengthen Faith; I had fainted unless I had believed, &c. Strengthen Patience; dejection of soul usually comes from impatience.
3. Be much in Prayer: Is any man afflicted? let him (not go and sinfully murmur and complain, but let him) pray.
4. Make use of heart-strengthening considerations; and that is,
1. Turn over the promises: They are left on purpose, as Gods bottle, his Vial of Cordials to keep the soul from fainting.
2. What ever befalls, remember it proceeds from Gods love.
⟨image 172⟩3. All that God aims at, is to do thee good.
4. Be the affection never so great, 'tis as necessary as prosperity, as health: This thy Physick is as necessary as thy food.
5. The issue of all, a Crown of glory: these light afflictions which are but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory. And therefore if so be there be such principles from which afflictions flow, and such ends to which they are managed: It is no wonder Christ will not pray that we may be taken out of the world from affliction, but keep in this world from the evil: So we fall on
