A50157:27
Right thoughts in sad hours representing the comforts and the duties of good men…
Right thoughts in sad hours representing the comforts and the duties of good men under all their afflictions; and particularly, that one, the untimely death of children: in a sermon delivered at Charles-town, New England; under a fresh experience of that calamity.Right thoughts in sad hours representing the comforts and the duties of good men under all their afflictions; and particularly, that one, the untimely death of children: in a sermon delivered at Charls-town, New England; under a fresh experience of that calamity.
London: printed by James Astwood, 1689
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.
The People of God are sure to be exercised with Afflictive Dispensations of the most High towards them in the World.
There is in every Generation a Remnant, a Little little Flock of Men, who are effectually called from the Vanities which the biggest part of perishing Mankind is woefully drowned in, unto the service of the Living God; who have chosen God as their Best good, and their Last end; chosen Christ as their Lord Redeemer, and resolved to be for him and not for another. These renewed Children of Adam are the Mystical Children of Israel; they may with an Eye to a Spiritual relation, point at Jacob, and say, A Syrian ready to perish was my Father. Now these must even in a peculiar manner expect to be like their Father Jacob, who in the close of his days was forced to say, Gen. 47. 9. Evil have been the days of the years of my Life. In every Age and in every Place, we may see the most High God afflicting of a Jacob in his Relations; of them, some are Churlish, others are Profane, and others are Taken ⟨p. 7⟩away. We may behold the Lord afflicting of an Heman in his Mind; th• Man complains, Lord, Why dost thou cast off my Soul? While I suffer thy Terrors, I am distracted. We may behold the Lord Afflicting of a Timothy in his Body, he feels a weak Stomach, with often Infirmities. We may behold the Lord Afflicting of a Lazarus in his Estate, he is reduced unto Beggary at the Doors of a wicked Belly-God. We may behold the Lord Afflicting of an Elijah in his Esteem, he is Libelled as a Seditions Boutefeau, always Troubling of his Country. In a word, we may ordinarily behold a David, a Job, a Paul, Afflicted in all, or most of these regards.
There is in every Generation a Remnant, a Little little Flock of Men, who are effectually called from the Vanities which the biggest part of perishing Mankind is wofully drowned in, unto the service of the Living God; who have chosen God as their Best good, and their Last end; chosen Christ as their Lord Redeemer, and resolved to be for him and not for another. These renewed Children of Adam are the Mystical Children of Israel; they may with an Eye to a Spiritual relation, point at Iacob, and say, A Syrian ready to perish was my Father. Now these must even in a peculiar manner expect to be like their Father Iacob, who in the close of his days was forced to say,