The Godly Man's Picture

2 God doth sometimes lay divers afflictions on the Saints, Job 19. 17. He multiplieth my wounds: as we have divers ways of sinning, so the Lord hath divers ways of afflicting; some he melts away their estates, others he chains to a sick bed, others he confines to a Prison; God hath various arrows in his quiver, which he shoots.

2 God doth sometimes lay divers afflictions on the Saints, Iob 19. 17. Hee multiplieth my wounds: as wee have divers waies of sinning, so the Lord hath divers waies of afflicting; some hee melts away their estates, others hee chains to a sick bed, others hee confines to a Prison; God hath various arrows in his quiver, which he shoots.

3 Sometimes God lets the affliction lye long, Psal. 74. 9. There is no more any Prophet, neither is there among us any that knoweth how long: As it is with diseases, there are some Chronic, that linger and hang about the body ⟨p. 173⟩several years together, so it is with afflictions, the Lord is pleased to exercise many of his precious ones with Chronic afflictions, such as lye upon them a long time; now in all these cases, it becomes the Saints, patiently to rest in the will of God; the Greek word for^† patient, is a metaphor, alludes to one who stands invincibly under a burden. This is the right notion of patience, when we bear affliction invincibly without fainting, or fretting.

3 Sometimes God lets the affliction lye long, Psal. 74. 9. There is no more any Prophet, neither is there among us any that knoweth how long: As it is with diseases, there are some Chronical, that linger and hang about the body