The Doctrine of Repentance

In affliction one may have the love of¹ God^*, Rev. 3. 19. If a man should throw a bag of money at another, and in throwing it should hurt him a little, and raise the skin, he would not take it unkindly, but look upon it as a fruit of love: So when the Lord bruiseth us with affliction, it is to enrich us with the golden graces and comforts of his Spirit; all is in love. But when we commit sin, God withdraws his love. When David had sinned, he felt nothing but displeasure from God, Psal. 97. 2. Clouds and darkness are round about him. David found it so; he could see no Rainbow, no Sun-beam, nothing but clouds and darkness about Gods face.

1. 15.
2. *[Greek or Hebrew]. Chrysost.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Chrysost.

That sin is worse than affliction, is evident,¹ because the greatest judgement God lays upon a man in this life, is to let him sin without control. When the Lords displeasure is most severely kindled against a person, he doth not say, I will bring the Sword and Plague on this man, but I will let him sin on, Psal. 81. 11. ⟨p. 61⟩So I gave them up to their own hearts lusts^*