A Divine Cordial

10. Another blessed sign of love, is, to entertain good thoughts of God. He that loves his friend construes what his friend doth in the best sense. 1 Cor. 13.5. Love thinketh no evil. Malice interprets all in the worst sense; Love interprets all in the best sense; it is an excellent Commentator upon Providence▪ It thinks no evil. He that loves God, hath a good opinion of God; though he afflicts sharply, yet the soul takes all well. This is the Language of a gracious spirit: My God sees what an hard heart I have, therefore drives in one Wedge of affliction after another, ⟨p. 109⟩to break my heart; he knows how full I am of bad humours, how sick of a Pleurisy, therefore lets me blood to save my life; this severe dispensation is either to mortify some corruption, or to exercise some grace: How good is God that will not let me alone in my sins, but smites my body, to save my soul! Thus he that loves God, takes every thing in good part. Love puts a candid gloss upon all Gods actions. Thou who art apt to murmur at God, as if he had dealt ill with thee, be humbled for this; say thus with thy self, if I loved God more, I should have better thoughts of God. 'Tis Satan that makes us have good thoughts of our selves, and hard thoughts of God. Love takes all in the fairest sense, it thinketh no evil.

10. Another blessed sign of love, is, to entertain good thoughts of God. He that loves his friend construes what his friend doth in the best sence. 1 Cor. 13.5. Love thinketh no evill. Malice interprets all in the worst sence; Love interprets all in the best sence; it is an excellent Commentator upon Providence▪ It thinks no evill. He that loves God, hath a good opinion of God; though he afflicts sharply, yet the soul takes all well. This is the Language of a gracious spirit: My God sees what an hard heart I have, therefore drives in one Wedge of affliction after another, ⟨p. 109⟩to break my heart; he knows how full I am of bad humors, how sick of a Plurisie, therefore lets me blood to save my life; this severe dispensation is either to mortifie some corruption, or to exercise some grace: How good is God that will not let me alone in my sins, but smites my body, to save my soul! Thus he that loves God, takes every thing in good part. Love puts a candid glosse upon all Gods actions. Thou who art apt to murmur at God, as if he had dealt ill with thee, be humbled for this; say thus with thy self, if I loved God more, I should have better thoughts of God. 'Tis Satan that makes us have good thoughts of our selves, and hard thoughts of God. Love takes all in the fairest sence, it thinketh no evill.