4. Such as unfit for Duty. Affections are no further lawful than they fit for Duty. When Grief taketh off our Hearts from the Duties of our general or particular Calling, it is an evil Grief: See Gen. 35. 19, 21. Rachel died, and was buried; and Israel journeyed and spread his Tent. Having ⟨p. 19⟩lost so dear a Wife, he doth not stand puling by the Tomb; but Israel journeyed, he went on about his Business. We ought so far to be sensible of Providence, as may serve to quicken us to Duty, not to hinder us. There is a great Question now, whether we ought to fear or hope in our Misery; some of one side cry down Fear; some on the other side cry down Hope: Why, Brethren, there is not much Matter in the Exercise of either of these Affections, but according as they do more or less quicken you to Duty. If you be the more earnest in Prayer, because you hope Success is near, truly that is a good Disposition of Heart; if because Fear, that is the most unchristian. I confess, Fear is good when it ends in Duty: Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, 2 Chron. 20. 3. And Noah moved with Fear, prepared an Ark, Heb. 11. 7. Brethren, the bare Exercise of Affections is but a natural and an indifferent thing; the great Trial of them is when they fit you the more for the Service that God requires of you. Therefore when Persons grieve so for the Loss of an Husband, Wife, Children, or Estate, that they have no mind to pray, no mind to go about their Callings with any Comfort, that is an evil Grief. It is true that God winketh at ⟨p. 20⟩some Omissions of Duties for a small while, in such cases, till we are able to manage our Thoughts, and digest our Sorrow; and the Letter of the Law giveth place to such great Necessities: as Aaron's Excuse is but reasonable; Levit. 10. 19. Such things have befallen me this Day, that if I had eaten the Sin-offering, should it be accepted with the Lord? The Death of his two Sons, though he held his Peace, he could not tell how for the present to frame his Heart to a joyful Duty: As if a Minister cannot tell how to bring his Heart to preach, if God hath entered upon his Family, taken away a Wife or Children thence. I confess this cometh from Corruption, but in such Cases God winketh at it for a short time. The Reasons are:
4. Such as unfit for Duty. Affections are no further lawful than they fit for Duty. When Grief taketh off our Hearts from the Duties of our general or particular Calling, it is an evil Grief: See Gen. 35. 19, 21. Rachel died, and was buried; and Israel journied and spread his Tent. Having ⟨p. 19⟩lost so dear a Wife, he doth not stand puling by the Tomb; but Israel journied, he went on about his Business. We ought so far to be sensible of Providence, as may serve to quicken us to Duty, not to hinder us. There is a great Question now, whether we ought to fear or hope in our Misery; some of one side cry down Fear; some on the other side cry down Hope: Why, Brethren, there is not much Matter in the Exercise of either of these Affections, but according as they do more or less quicken you to Duty. If you be the more earnest in Prayer, because you hope Success is near, truly that is a good Disposition of Heart; if because Fear, that is the most unchristian. I confess, Fear is good when it ends in Duty: Iehosaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, 2 Chron. 20. 3. And Noah moved with Fear, prepared an Ark, Heb. 11. 7. Brethren, the bare Exercise of Affections is but a natural and an indifferent thing; the great Trial of them is when they fit you the more for the Service that God requires of you. Therefore when Persons grieve so for the Loss of an Husband, Wife, Children, or Estate, that they have no mind to pray, no mind to go about their Callings with any Comfort, that is an evil Grief. It is true that God winketh at ⟨p. 20⟩some Omissions of Duties for a small while, in such cases, till we are able to manage our Thoughts, and digest our Sorrow; and the Letter of the Law giveth place to such great Necessities: as Aaron's Excuse is but reasonable; Levit. 10. 19. Such things have befallen me this Day, that if I had eaten the Sin-offering, should it be accepted with the Lord? The Death of his two Sons, though he held his Peace, he could not tell how for the present to frame his Heart to a joyful Duty: As if a Minister cannot tell how to bring his Heart to preach, if God hath entered upon his Family, taken away a Wife or Children thence. I confess this cometh from Corruption, but in such Cases God winketh at it for a short time. The Reasons are:
