1 To begin with Sin, that is the worst evil; affliction ⟨p. 11⟩is evil, but it is not evil in it self, but only in our sense and feeling; but sin is evil whether we feel it, or no; it is worst when we feel it not. 2 That is evil which separates from the chiefest good, Affliction doth not separate from God; it is a means and occasion to make us draw near to him; many had never been acquainted with God, but for their afflictions; but sin separates from God, Isa. 59.2. Your iniquities have separated, &c. Let a man be never so loathsome, yet if he be in a state of grace, he is dear to God; the Lord takes pleasure in him; though he should be roughcast with Ulcers and sores in a prison, yet God will kiss him with the kisses of his mouth; there is nothing loathsome and odious to God but sin. This grieves the Saints most, Rom. 7.23. Oh wretched man that I am, &c. if any man had cause to complain of afflictions, Paul had; in perils often, in perils by Land, in perils by Sea, in perils by enemies, in perils by false brethren, whipped, imprisoned, stoned; but he doth not cry out, when shall I be delivered from these afflictions, but this body of death; Lust troubled him more then scourges; and his captivity to the Law of sin, more then chains and prisons. This is the disposition of the Saints, they are weary of the world, because they are sinning here, whilst others are glorifying God; not only that they are suffering here, whilst others are enjoying God. A beast will forsake the place where he hath neither meat nor rest; Carnal men, when they are beaten out of the word, have a fancy to heaven as a place of retreat: but that which troubles godly men is their sin; well now, in Heaven there is no sin; there is neither spot nor wrinkle upon the face of glorified Saints, Eph. 5.27 They were once as black as you; but now Christ ⟨p. 12⟩presents them to God, as a proof of the cleansing virtue of his blood; there they are freed from all sin; here with much ado we mortify our lust, and yet nature will be ever recoiling; as the Ivy in the wall, cut it never so much, it will be breaking out again: it is much here if the Dominion of sin be taken away; there the being of it is abolished; the glorified Saints displease God no more, and are freed from all the immediate and inseparable consequences of original sin; from distractions in duty;
1 To begin with Sin, that is the worst evil; affliction ⟨p. 11⟩is evil, but it is not evil in it self, but onely in our sense and feeling; but sin is evil whether we feel it, or no; it is worst when we feel it not. 2 That is evil which separates from the chiefest good, Affliction doth not separate from God; it is a means and occasion to make us draw neer to him; many had never been acquainted with God, but for their afflictions; but sin separates from God, Isa. 59.2. Your iniquities have separated, &c. Let a man be never so loathsom, yet if he be in a state of grace, he is dear to God; the Lord takes pleasure in him; though he should be roughcast with Ulcers and sores in a prison, yet God will kiss him with the kisses of his mouth; there is nothing loathsome and odious to God but sin. This grieves the Saints most, Rom. 7.23. Oh wretched man that I am, &c. if any man had cause to complain of afflictions, Paul had; in perils often, in perils by Land, in perils by Sea, in perils by enemies, in perils by false brethren, whipped, imprisoned, stoned; but he doth not cry out, when shall I be delivered from these afflictions, but this body of death; Lust troubled him more then scourges; and his captivity to the Law of sin, more then chains and prisons. This is the disposition of the Saints, they are weary of the world, because they are sinning here, whilst others are glorifying God; not onely that they are suffering here, whilst others are injoying God. A beast will forsake the place where he hath neither meat nor rest; Carnal men, when they are beaten out of the word, have a fancy to heaven as a place of retreat: but that which troubles godly men is their sin; well now, in Heaven there is no sin; there is neither spot nor wrinckle upon the face of glorifyed Saints, Eph. 5.27 They were once as black as you; but now Christ ⟨p. 12⟩presents them to God, as a proof of the cleansing vertue of his blood; there they are freed from all sin; here with much adoe we mortifie our lust, and yet nature will be ever recoyling; as the Ivy in the wall, cut it never so much, it will be breaking out again: it is much here if the Dominion of sin be taken away; there the being of it is abolished; the glorifyed Saints displease God no more, and are freed from all the immediate and inseparable consequences of original sin; from distractions in duty;
