A65285:378
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.
2. The Trials and Sufferings of the godly are to refine and purify them. God's Furnace is in Zion, Isa. 31.9. Is it any Injustice in God to put his Gold into the Furnace to purify it? Is it any Injustice in God by afflicting his People, to make them partakers of his Holiness? Hebr. 12.10. What doth more proclaim God's Faithfulness, than to take such a course with them as may make them better, Psal. 119.75. In faithfulness thou hast corrected me.
2. The Trials and Sufferings of the godly are to refine and purifie them. God's Furnace is in Sion, Isa. 31.9. Is it any Injustice in God to put his Gold into the Furnace to purifie it? Is it any Injustice in God by afflicting his People, to make them partakers of his Holiness? Hebr. 12.10. What doth more proclaim God's Faithfulness, than to take such a course with them as may make them better, Psal. 119.75. In faithfulness thou hast corrected me.
3. What Injustice is it in God to inflict a lesser Punishment, and prevent a greater? The best of God's Children have that in them which is meritorious of Hell: ⟨p. 52⟩Now I pray, doth God do them any wrong, if he useth only the Rod, where they have deserved the Scorpion? Is the Father unjust if he only corrects his Child, who hath deserved to be disinherited? If God deals so favourably with his Children, he only puts Wormwood in their Cup, whereas he might put Fire and Brimstone, they are rather to admire his Mercy, than complain of his Injustice.