A35541:184
The nature and principles of love, as the end of the commandment declared in…
The nature and principles of love, as the end of the commandment declared in some of the last sermons of Mr. Joseph Caryl ; with an epistle prefixed by John Owen ...
London : Printed, and are to be sold by John Hancock, senior and junior ..., 1673
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.
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 dicernable, 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 tryals, and by the troubles that are upon us, and by our fears, and by our dangers.