The nature and principles of love, as the end of the commandment declared in…

Secondly, A light to see more of of the Mind of God, and of the ⟨p. 103⟩Word of God. So David in Psal 119. 71. It was good for me that I have been afflicted, for thereby I have learned thy Statutes. Saith he, learned them? I have more of thy Statutes, and I have learned every Statute more. There hath come in a clearer light into my soul now by my afflictions. A state of affliction is in it self called in Scripture, A state of Darkness: it is a time of darkness: and yet it is wonderful, that out of this Darkness there comes a light; a spiritual light: so that we see more of the Word of God, and of the wonderful things of the Law.

Thirdly, It must needs follow, that by affliction we have a clearer light to see the worth of grace, and of an interest in Jesus Christ, what an excellent thing that is. And then,

Fourthly, A clearer light to see the excellency of Jesus Christ himself. As of an Interest in Christ, so of the person of Christ, how glorious, ⟨p. 104⟩how choice a one Jesus Christ is. I do but touch this now: By affliction a light comes into the soul: Upon all these, or upon other accounts, we must needs improve Heaven-ward, and grow up like the Palm-tree. In 2 Pet. 3. 18. saith the Apostle, Grow in Grace. Why how should we come to grow in grace? Why saith he, And in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In proportion to our growth in the knowledge, in the true knowledge; I speak not of a notional knowledge, a mere brain knowledge, but of an experimental knowledge of Jesus Christ. As we increase in this knowledge, so we increase and grow in grace: and so of the rest. As we grow in the knowledge of the vanity of the world: as we grow in the knowledge of the Word of God; as we grow in the knowledge of the worth of grace, and of an interest in Christ; as we grow in the knowledge of the excellency of the knowledge of