Seven sermons on several select subjects preached

Use 2.

If Gods Rod hath so much comfort in it to the godly; then be not too much dejected and cast down in Affliction. If you meet with losses; if you meet with Pirates at Sea, and Hornets at Land, you see God can turn all these to good; Thy Rod comforts me. Therefore be not too much cast down. Tho' we are not to pray for Affliction, for it is in it self penal; neither must we despond under Affliction. Oh, saith one, if God did love me, he would not have dealt thus severely with me; he hath bereaved me of such and such a dear comfort, which is like plucking a Limb from the body. But Christian consider, that which thou callest a dear comfort that God hath taken away, perhaps it was an Idol; it may be thou lovedst it more than thou didst God; and if thou hadst not lost this comfort, thou mightest have lost thy Soul and Heaven too; why then, hath God in taking away ⟨p. 45⟩this comfort done thee any wrong? there is mercy in all this: Mayest not thou say at last, Thy Rod comforts me?

If Gods Rod hath so much comfort in it to the godly; then be not too much dejected and cast down in Affliction. If you meet with losses; if you meet with Pyrats at Sea, and Hornets at Land, you see God can turn all these to good; Thy Rod comforts me. Therefore be not too much cast down. Tho' we are not to pray for Affliction, for it is in it self penal; neither must we despond under Affliction. Oh, saith one, if God did love me, he would not have dealt thus severely with me; he hath bereaved me of such and such a dear comfort, which is like plucking a Limb from the body. But Christian consider, that which thou callest a dear comfort that God hath taken away, perhaps it was an Idol; it may be thou lovedst it more than thou didst God; and if thou hadst not lost this comfort, thou mightest have lost thy Soul and Heaven too; why then, hath God in taking away ⟨p. 45⟩this comfort done thee any wrong? there is mercy in all this: Maist not thou say at last, Thy Rod comforts me?