A39658:86
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.
Affliction is like a Hue and Cry after sin in the ears of Conscience, and this is the envenomed poisonous sting and Affliction: pluck out this, and the afflicted man is presently eased, though the matter of the affliction still abide with him, and lie upon him. He is afflicted still, but not cast down by affliction; the anguish and burden is gone, though the matter of trouble remain.
Affliction is like a Hue and Cry after sin in the ears of Conscience, and this is the envenom'd poysonous sting and Affliction: pluck out this, and the afflicted man is presently eased, though the matter of the affliction still abide with him, and lie upon him. He is afflicted still, but not cast down by affliction; the anguish and burden is gone, though the matter of trouble remain.
This is plain both in Scripture, and in Experience. Suitable hereunto is that strange, but sweet Expression, The inhabitant shall not say I am sick, 1the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities. It's not to be imagined these people had found such a fortunate Island, o• happy Climate, where no Disease could touch or invade their ⟨p. 38⟩Bodies; no, sickness will find o• the Bodies of the best men, where ever they live; wherever sin ha•• been, sickness and death will fo••low it. Heaven is the only pr••viledg'd place from these miseries but the meaning is, though the• be sick, they shall not feel th• pains and burdens of sickness they shall not say they are sick: An• why so? because their iniquities are forgiven. Plainly confirming what was before asserted, that the anguish of an Affliction is gone as soon as ever the sting of guil is plucked out. And hence pardoning of the Soul, and healing o the Body, are put together as conjugate mercies: