Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachi the…Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachy the…

5. When God corrects he deals well with his People, because all he doth is in Love^*. Afflictions are (as Gregory Nazianzen faith) sharp Arrows, but they are shot from the hand of a loving Father. As Gods not afflicting the Wicked is in anger: Gods hand is Heaviest when it is lightest, Hosea 4.14. I will not punish your daughters when they commit Whoredom: A Father gives over correcting a Child whom he intends to disinherit: so Gods ⟨p. 221⟩chastising the Godly is in Love, Rev. 3.19. As many as I Love I rebuke; when God hath the Look of an Enemy, he hath the Heart of a Father. As when Abraham lift up his hand to Sacrifice Isaac, he loved him; so when God Sacrificeth the Comforts of his Children, he loves them. Was not God severe against Christ: yet it was proclaimed by a Voice from Heaven, This is my beloved Son, Mat. 3.17. Well then, if God only send love-tokens to us, he deals well with us.

5. When God corrects he deals well with his People, because all he doth is in Love^*. Afflictions are (as Gregory Nazianzen faith) sharp Arrows, but they are shot from the hand of a loving Father. As Gods not afflicting the Wicked is in anger: Gods hand is Heaviest when it is lightest, Hosea 4.14. I will not punish your daughters when they commit Whoredom: A Father gives over correcting a Child whom he intends to disinherit: so Gods ⟨p. 221⟩chastizing the Godly is in Love, Rev. 3.19. As many as I Love I rebuke; when God hath the Look of an Enemy, he hath the Heart of a Father. As when Abraham lift up his hand to Sacrifice Isaac, he loved him; so when God Sacrificeth the Comforts of his Children, he loves them. Was not God severe against Christ: yet it was proclaimed by a Voice from Heaven, This is my beloved Son,