A Body of Practical Divinity

Resp. When we are by our Afflictions conformed to Christ: Namely, When we have learned Obedience, Heb. 5.8. He learned Obedience by the things which he suffered: That is, he learned sweet Submission to his Fathers Will, Luke 22.42. Not my will, but thy will be done. When we have thus learned Obedience by our Suffering, we are willing to do what God will have us do, and be what God will have us be. Now we are conformed to Christ, and are fitted for Deliverance.

3. If God have brought you at any time out of the House of Bondage, out of great and eminent Troubles, be much in Doxology and Praise; Deliverance calls for Praise, Psal. 30.11, 12. Thou hast put off my Sackcloth, and girded me with gladness: To the end that my Glory may sing praise to thee. My Glory, (that is, my ⟨p. 266⟩Tongue which is the Instrument of glorifying thee.) The Saints are Temples of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 3.16. Where should Gods Praises be sounded but in his Temples? Beneficium postulat officium: The deepest Springs yield the sweetest Water: And Hearts deeply sensible of Gods Deliverances yield the sweetest Praises. Moses tells Pharaoh, when he was going out of Egypt, We will go with our Sheep and our Cattle, Exod. 10.9. Why so? Because he might have Sacrifices of Thanksgiving ready to offer to God for their Deliverance. To have a thankful Heart for a Deliverance, is a greater Blessing than the Deliverance it self, Luke 17.15. One of the Lepers, when he saw he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God. The Lepers thankful Heart was a greater Blessing than to be healed of his Leprosy: Have any of you here been brought out of the House of Bondage, out of Prison, Sickness, or any Death-threatening Danger? Do not forget to be thankful; be not Graves, but Temples: And that you may be the more Thankful, observe every Emphasis and Circumstance in your Deliverance; as to be brought out of trouble when you were In articulo mortis, there was but an Hairs breadth between you and Death; or to be brought out of Affliction, without Sin, you did not purchase your Deliverance, by the ensnaring of your Consciences; or, to be brought out of trouble upon the Wings of Prayer; or, that those who were the Occasions of bringing you into trouble, should be the Instruments of bringing you out: These Circumstances being well weighed, do heighten a Deliverance, and should heighten our Thankfulness: The cutting of a Stone may be of more Value than the Stone it self: And the Circumstancing of a Deliverance may be greater than the Deliverance it self.