A Divine Cordial

6. Afflictions work so good, as they make way for comfort. In the valley of Achor a door of hope, Hos. 2.15. Achor signifies trouble: God sweetens outward pain, with inward peace. Joh. 16.20. Your sorrow shall be turned into joy. Here is the Water turned into Wine. After a bitter Pill God gives Sugar. Paul had his Prison-Songs. Gods Rod hath Honey at the end of it. The Saints in affliction have had such sweet raptures of joy, that ⟨p. 31⟩they have thought themselves in the borders of the Heavenly Canaan; they have gathered Grapes of Thorns.

6. Afflictions work so good, as they make way for comfort. In the valley of Achor a door of hope, Hos. 2.15. Achor signifies trouble: God sweetens outward pain, with inward peace. Ioh. 16.20. Your sorrow shall be turned into joy. Here is the Water turned into Wine. After a bitter Pill God gives Sugar. Paul had his Prison-Songs. Gods Rod hath Honey at the end of it. The Saints in affliction have had such sweet raptures of joy, that ⟨p. 31⟩they have thought themselves in the borders of the Heavenly Canaan; they have ga•hered Grapes of Thorns.

7. Afflictions wo•k for good, as they are a magnifying of us, Job 7.17. What is man §7that thou shouldest magnify him, and that thou shouldest visit him every morning? God doth by affliction magnify us three ways. 1. In that he will condescend so low as to take notice of us; that he will afflict us, rather than lose us. 'Tis an honour that God will mind dust and ashes: 'Tis a magnifying of us, that God thinks us worthy to be smitten. Gods not striking, is a slighting,