The Godly Man's Picture

3 Afflictions quicken our pace in the way to heaven; it is with us, as with children sent on an errand, if they meet with Apples or Flowers by the way, they linger and make no great haste home, but if any thing fright them, then they run with all the speed they can to their fathers house; so in prosperity, we are gathering the Apples and Flowers, and do not much mind heaven, but if troubles begin to arise, and the times grow frightful, then we make more haste to heaven, and with David; run the way of Gods commandments. Psa. 119. 32.¹

3 Afflictions quicken our pace in the way to heaven; it is with us, as with children sent on an errand, if they meet with Apples or Flowers by the way, they linger and make no great haste home, but if any thing fright them, then they run with all the speed they can to their fathers house; so in prosperity, we are gathering the Apples and Flowers, and do not much minde heaven, but if troubles begin to arise, and the times grow frightful, then we make more haste to heaven, and with David; run the way of Gods commandements. Psa. 119. 32.¹

1. 12 Argu.

2 God intermixeth mercy with affliction, he steeps his-sword of justice in the oil of ^*mercy, there was no night so dark, but Israel had a Pillar of fire in it; there is no condition ⟨p. 176⟩so dismal, but we may see a Pillar of fire to give light, if the body be in pain, conscience is in peace, there is mercy; affliction is for the prevention of sin, there is mercy: In the Ark there was a rod and a pot of Manna, the Emblem of a Christians condition, mercy interlined with