A35539:203
Gospel-love, heart-purity, and the flourishing of the righteous being the last sermon of the…
Gospel-love, heart-purity, and the flourishing of the righteous being the last sermon of the late reverend Mr. Joseph Caryl.
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock Senior and Junior, 1675
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, And then I would say yet further, This may be matter of Trial to us. We may take a trial of our selves, both as to ⟨p. 121⟩the state of our persons, and as to the state of our graces.
Fourthly, And then I would say yet further, This may be matter of Tryal to us. We may take a tryal of our selves, both as to ⟨p. 121⟩the state of our persons, and as to the state of our graces.
First, As to the state of our persons: Why, how is it with us under sufferings? Do we improve by them? Do we grow, do we flourish, though we have these weights upon us? Why, truly it is an argument and evidence that our state is good: for a bad man is not made the better by the evils that are upon him. I know God may use afflictions to change a man; but unsound hearts, they that have been unsound and false in the profession of the Gospel, they do discover themselves in such a time, show their rottenness, and their naughtiness. And it is a very great question, whether they that are not bettered by afflictions, were ever good. Though I would not speak it to lay a trouble upon any. Our betterings sometimes under afflictions, is not very discernible, at least at present. But ⟨p. 122⟩I say, it may put us much upon a doubt, whether we, or any were ever really good, if we are not bettered by afflictions, and by trials, and by the troubles that are upon us, and by our fears, and by our dangers.
First, As to the state of our persons: Why, how is it with us under sufferings? Do we improve by them? Do we grow, do we flourish, though we have these weights upon us? Why, truly it is an argument and evidence that our state is good: for a bad man is not made the better by the evils that are upon him. I know God may use afflictions to change a man; but unsound hearts, they that have been unsound and false in the profession of the Gospel, they do discover themselves in such a time, shew their rottenness, and their naughtiness. And it is a very great question, whether they that are not bettered by afflictions, were ever good. Though I would not speak it to lay a trouble upon any. Our betterings sometimes under afflictions, is not very discernable, at least at present. But