An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…

Thirdly, Affliction doth not hit the Saints by chance, but by direction.

There is a great difference between shooting at random, and shooting at a mark. God doth now draw his Bow at a venture (as he who slew Ahab did, 1 Kings 22.34.) or shoot at the whole host of mankind, let the Arrow light where and on whom it vvill, but he singles out the particular person, whom he intends to hit. Every one of his Arrows goes upon a special errand, and touches no breast but that against whom it was sent: And as this speaks the honour of God, who determines as much, upon whom, as what to do, and chooseth out those at whom he means to shoot, as well as the means by which he shoots at them; so it should establish our hearts to receive his shot, and in this sense to be like a senseless mark which stirs not from the Arrow, nor withdraws from the deadly Bullet. It is not only the grace, but the glory of a Believer, when he can stand as a But-mark, and take affliction quietly. The Apostle speaks near this language, and fully this truth (1 Thes. 1.3.) I would that no man should be moved for these afflictions; for you your selves know that we are appointed thereunto; As if he had said, I would have you stand as Posts, notwithstanding all these afflictions: Not that he would have them careless, or secure; but courageous, and full of holy undauntedness: I would have no man flinch, or stir a foot, no more then a mark that is shot at, Why? Knowing that we are appointed thereto: As a mark is appointed to be shot at, and set up on purpose that the Arrow may be directed against it; ⟨p. 296⟩so the Lord sets up his Saints and Servants on purpose, that he may shoot the Arrows of affliction at them; therefore let us keep our ground and not be moved. We honour God, yea it is our honour also, when we are unmoveable in active obedience as the Apostle exhorts (2 Cor. 15.58.) Wherefore my Brethren be steadfast and unmoveable, alway abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. But as it is our honour, and Gods honour too, when we are unmoveable in doing the will of God; so it is a greater honour, both to him and us, when we are so in suffering his will, or in passive obedience; when we stand to it, and move no more in way of cowardice and impatience then a Post when it is shot at. This is the glory of a Christian, and it is his duty; this is the glory of God, and it is his due;