A50157:81
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.
§. Again, Your Afflictions will wean your Affections from the wrong Objects of them. God will have you to look upon all things here below with such Affections as David had for a Kingdom in an Exile, and to say, I am as a weaned Child. To this end the Lord by Afflictions lays Wormwood on the Breasts which you have hung too much upon. He will cause Creatures to be our Grief that they may not be our God. Tertullian said very true of Idolatry, It is praecipuum crimen Humani generis, the grand Crime of Mankind: Affliction mortifies that Rebellion; therefore, David, are thy Children cut off: therefore, Jacob, is the Wife of thy Bosom snatched out of it; therefore, Hezekiah, is thy Treasure blasted and wasted: It is that Idolatrous Affections may be recalled.
§. Again, Your Affictions will wean your Afflections from the wrong Objects of them. God will have you to look upon all things here below with such Affections as David had for a Kingdom in an Exile, and to say, I am as a weaned Child. To this end the Lord by Afflictions layes Wormwood on the Breasts which you have hung too much upon. He will cause Creatures to be our Grief that they may not be our God. Tertullian said very true of Idolatry, It is praecipuum crimen Humani generis, the grand Crime of Mankind: Affliction mortifies that Rebellion; therefore, David, are thy Children cut off: therefore, Iacob, is the Wife of thy Bosom snatched out of it; therefore, Hezekiah, is thy Treasure blasted and wasted: It is that Idolatrous Affections may be recalled.
§. Once more; both your Graces and your Duties will be quickened by your Afflictions. Afflictions will prove the Weights by the Hanging whereof upon you, you shall more flourish like Palm-trees in the ⟨p. 35⟩Court-yards of the Lord: Afflictions will be the Feet which by treading upon you, will make you as the Chamomile, to grow the more. Afflictions will be the Fires, which like Viols, you shall make the better Music by being disposed near unto: Afflictions will be the Spurs which shall cause you to mend your pace in Running the Race which is set before you. Afflictions—But room for enlargement is denied—In short; God by Afflictions is as it were pounding or grinding of his rare Spices in your Souls, the scent of them will now become very Fragrant, very Glorious. We have heard in