A65285:1796
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
3. If Gods own Israel may be in the House of Bondage, then Afflictions do not of themselves demonstrate a Man Miserable. Indeed Sin unrepented of, makes one miserable, but the Cross doth not. If God hath a design in afflicting his Children, to make them happy, then they are not miserable; but Gods afflicting them is to make them happy: Therefore they are not Miserable, Job 5.17. Happy is the Man whom God correcteth. The World counts them happy, who can keep out of Affliction; but the Scripture calls them happy, who are afflicted.
3. If Gods own Israel may be in the House of Bondage, then Afflictions do not of themselves demonstrate a Man Miserable. Indeed Sin unrepented of, makes one miserable, but the Cross doth not. If God hath a design in afflicting his Children, to make them happy, then they are not miserable; but Gods afflicting them is to make them happy: Therefore they are not Miserable, Iob 5.17. Happy is the Man whom God correcteth. The World counts them happy, who can keep out of Affliction; but the Scripture calls them happy, who are afflicted.
Quest. How are they happy?
Resp. 1. Because they are more Holy, Heb. 12.10. 2. Because they are more in Gods Favour, Prov 3.12. The Goldsmith loves his Gold, when in the Furnace. 3. Because they have more of Gods sweet Presence, Psal. 91.15. And they cannot be unhappy, that have Gods powerful Presence in supporting, his gracious Presence in Sanctifying their Affliction. 4. Because the more affliction they have, the more degrees of Glory they shall have. The lower they have been in the Iron Furnace, they shall sit upon the higher Throne of Glory. The heavier their Cross, the heavier shall be their Crown. So then if Affliction make a Christian happy, they cannot denominate him miserable.