2. God's tempting is always good, and for good; his tempting is either in Mercy or in Judgment. In Mercy; and so, when he trieth the Graces of his People; or when he means more especially to discover the failings of his People, it is all Good. When he tries the Graces of his People, there is no doubt of that. When God hath furnished a Man with Grace, that he may (without any Impeachment of his Goodness) put him upon Trial, and use Creatures for that end for which he hath fitted them; as a Man which hath made and bought a thing, may prove it, and try the strength of it. Or when the intent of the Dispensation is to try their Weakness, that's good also, and for good; as when a Man tries a leaky-Vessel, with an intent to make it stanch. So when God tempts us by sharp Afflictions, or any other Course, it's for good; Heb. 12. 10. He, verily, for our profit, that we might be partakers of his Holiness. A Man that hath a Disease upon him, it may be walking or stirring the Humours the Disease may appear, it is for good; 'tis better it should be discovered, that he may in time look after a Remedy, than lurk and lye hid in the Body to his utter undoing: So it is for good our Corruptions and Weaknesses should be discovered, that they may be made sound. Ay but when God brings' it in Judgment, yet that's for good, that is, for his own Glory and his Churches good, tho not for the good of the Party. For the Churches good, that naughtiness where it is might in time be discovered; Prov. 26. 26. Whose Hatred is covered by Deceit, his Wickedness shall be showed before the whole ⟨p. 415⟩Congregation; lest Men get a Name that they might do Religion a Mischief: And it is for the Glory of God, that Men may appear what they are. Here's no stain upon God's Justice for all this. He that pierceth a Vessel, if it run dreggy with musty or poisonous Liquor, the fault is not in him that pierceth it, but in the Liquor it self; he that pierceth or broacheth it, doth only discover what is within, that if it be unsavoury he may cast it into the Kennel: So, it is not the fault of God which pierceth, discovereth, and letteth out our Corruption, the fault is in our selves; we have those things within, which are discovered as soon as God puts us upon a trial.
2. God's tempting is always good, and for good; his tempting is either in Mercy or in Judgment. In Mercy; and so, when he tryeth the Graces of his People; or when he means more especially to discover the failings of his People, it is all Good. When he tries the Graces of his People, there is no doubt of that. When God hath furnished a Man with Grace, that he may (without any Impeachment of his Goodness) put him upon Trial, and use Creatures for that end for which he hath fitted them; as a Man which hath made and bought a thing, may prove it, and try the strength of it. Or when the intent of the Dispensation is to try their Weakness, that's good also, and for good; as when a Man tries a leaky-Vessel, with an intent to make it stanch. So when God tempts us by sharp Afflictions, or any other Course, it's for good; Heb. 12. 10. He, verily, for our profit, that we might be partakers of his Holiness. A Man that hath a Disease upon him, it may be walking or stirring the Humours the Disease may appear, it is for good; 'tis better it should be discovered, that he may in time look after a Remedy, than lurk and lye hid in the Body to his utter undoing: So it is for good our Corruptions and Weaknesses should be discovered, that they may be made sound. Ay but when God brings' it in Judgment, yet that's for good, that is, for his own Glory and his Churches good, tho not for the good of the Party. For the Churches good, that naughtiness where it is might in time be discovered; Prov. 26. 26. Whose Hatred is covered by Deceit, his Wickedness shall be shewed before the whole ⟨p. 415⟩Congregation; lest Men get a Name that they might do Religion a Mischief: And it is for the Glory of God, that Men may appear what they are. Here's no stain upon God's Iustice for all this. He that pierceth a Vessel, if it run dreggy with musty or poisonous Liquor, the fault is not in him that pierceth it, but in the Liquor it self; he that pierceth or broacheth it, doth only discover what is within, that if it be unsavory he may cast it into the Kennel: So, it is not the fault of God which pierceth, discovereth, and letteth out our Corruption, the fault is in our selves; we have those things within, which are discovered as soon as God puts us upon a trial.
