Seven sermons on several select subjects preached

Secondly, Take that which is sour to the Body, Affliction; and it hath comfort in it. A parallel Scripture for this worth observing, 2 Cor. 6.10. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: There is comfort in the Rod. A Christian is like a Bird that can sing in the Winter season: He can pick comfort out of the ⟨p. 42⟩Rod, and with Sampson, fetch Honey out of the Lion. 1 Thes. 1.6. Having received the Word with much Affliction, with Joy; here is Gods Rod comforting that Christian which knows Affliction tends to the bettering him, making his Grace purer, and his Crown brighter: He can rejoice in Affliction, and say as David, Oh Lord, thy Rod comforts me. Thus you see Religion is no uncheerful thing.

Secondly, Take that which is sour to the Body, Affliction; and it hath comfort in it. A parallel Scripture for this worth observing, 2 Cor. 6.10. As sorrowful, yet always rejoycing: There is comfort in the Rod. A Christian is like a Bird that can sing in the Winter season: He can pick comfort out of the ⟨p. 42⟩Rod, and with Sampson, fetch Honey out of the Lion. 1 Thes. 1.6. Having received the Word with much Affliction, with Joy; here is Gods Rod comforting that Christian which knows Affliction tends to the bettering him, making his Grace purer, and his Crown brighter: He can rejoyce in Affliction, and say as David, Oh Lord, thy Rod comforts me. Thus you see Religion is no unchearful thing.

Thirdly, A third Inference is this: If Gods Rod comforts, then it shows us what good reason we have to choose Affliction rather than Sin. There is something in Affliction to comfort us; but there is nothing in Sin to comfort us. Sin it is evil, and nothing but evil: It is the spirit of Witchcraft; it defiles the mind, disturbs the peace; it puts a worm into Conscience, a sting into death, and a fire into Hell. This is in Scripture called the abominable thing,