Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

I do not say, that God never afflicts his people, but for their sin; for he may do it for their ⟨p. 138⟩trial, 1 Pet. 4. 12. Nor do I say, that God follows every sin with a rod; for who then should stand before him? Psal. 130. 3. But this I say, that it's Gods usual way, to visit the sins of his people with rods of affliction, and this in mercy to their souls. Upon this account it was, that the rod of God was upon David in a long succession of troubles upon his Kingdom and family, after that great prevarication of his, 2 Sam. 12. 10. And if we would carefully search out the seeds and principles of those miseries under which we or ours do groan; we should find them to be our own turnings aside from the Lord, according to that Jer. 2. 19. and Jer. 4. 18. Have not all these cautions, and threatenings of the Word been exactly fulfilled by Providence in your own experience? Who can but see the infallible truth of God in all that he hath threatened! And no less evident is the truth of the Promises to all that will observe how Providence makes them good every day to us; for consider,

I do not say, that God never afflicts his people, but for their sin; for he may do it for their ⟨p. 138⟩tryal, 1 Pet. 4. 12. Nor do I say, that God follows every sin with a rod; for who then should stand before him? Psal. 130. 3. But this I say, that it's Gods usual way, to visit the sins of his people with rods of affliction, and this in mercy to their souls. Upon this account it was, that the rod of God was upon David in a long succession of troubles upon his Kingdom and family, after that great prevarication of his,