A39658:33
The balm of the covenant applied to the bleeding wounds of afflicted saints First…
The balm of the covenant applied to the bleeding wounds of afflicted saints First composed for the relief of a pious and worthy family, mourning over the deaths of their hopeful children; and now made public for the support of all Christians, sorrowing on the same or any other account. To which is added, A sermon preached for the funeral of that excellent and religious gentleman John Upton of Lupton esq; by John Flavell, preacher of the gospel at Dartmouth in Devon.The balm of the covenant applied to the bleeding wounds of afflicted saints First composed for the relief of a pious and worthy family, mourning over the deaths of their hopeful children; and now made publick for the support of all Christians, sorrowing on the same or any other account. To which is added, A sermon preached for the funeral of that excellent and religious gentleman John Upton of Lupton esq; by John Flavell, preacher of the gospel at Dartmouth in Devon.
London: printed for J. Harris, 1688
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.
1. Here is David's sad and mournful Concession of the Evils of his House, both Moral, and Penal. Although my house be not so with God, (i. e.) neither so holy, nor so happy, as this description of a righteous and flourishing Government imports; alas, it answers not to it: for though he was ⟨p. 8⟩eminent for Godliness himself, and had solemnly dedicated his House to God,1 as soon as it was built, yea, though he piously resolved to walk in the midst of it with a perfect heart, and not to suffer an immoral person within his Walls; yet great miscarriages were found even in David's House,2 and Person, which God chastised him for, by a thick succession of sharp and sore Afflictions. Tamar was defiled by her Brother Amnon, 2 Sam. 13.23. Amnon was barbarously murdered thereupon, by the advice of Absalom, 2 Sam. 13.28. Absalom unnaturally rebels against his Father David, and drives him out of the Royal City, and perishes in that Rebellion, 2 Sam. 15.1. Then Adonijah, another Darling-Son, grasps at the Crown settled by David upon Solomon, and perishes for that his Usurpation, 1 King. 2.25. O what an heap of Mischiefs and Calamities did this good man live to see within his own Walls! besides the many foreign Troubles ⟨p. 9⟩that came from other hands. How many flourishing Branches did God •op off from him, and that in their sins too? so that his day was a day of Clouds, even from the morning unto the evening of it; Psal. 132.1. Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions. Well might he say, His house was not so with God. But what then, doth he faint and despond under these manifold Calamities? Doth he refuse to be comforted, because his Children are gone, and all things involved in trouble? No, but you find,