The second thing to be observed is, that the Lord will not presently be reconciled with his people, and show unto 1them the wonted signs of his favour, till he hath taken trial of their repentance by manifold afflictions; and this he doth not so much to approve their unfeigned repentance to himself, for he searcheth the heart and reigns, and therefore needeth not these outward signs; but first that by these signs, their own faith may be assured, that they are truly converted, seeing they endure the trial with patience, because they have sinned. Secondly, that he may show his detestation of sin, in that he will not easily be reconciled, even with those whom he dearly loveth, when they have grievously offended Thirdly, that by these corrections he may make them careful for the time to come, that they do not again by their sins provoke his displeasure; for he that with a wounded conscience and broken spirit, hath long sought and sued for mercy, and hath spent many a bitter sigh and grievous groan before he could attain unto the assurance of gods favour, having obtained it will not easily be ⟨p. 25⟩allured again by his sins to hazard and loose it. Fourthly that hereby he may glorify his name, by approving his justice and righteous judgements even to those that are with out, when as they see that he will not wink at sin, no not in his dearest children; who otherwise would take occasion upon their sin and impunity to blaspheme. 2 Sam. 12. 14. 2Lastly, that he may hereby teach the wicked what they are to expect, for if the Lord so correcteth those sins in his children which of infirmity they have committed, how will he punish the sins of wicked men which they commit with full consent of will? If he be displeased with the faithful, and will not presently assure them of his favour, after they have repented, then what can they look for that continue in their sins without repentance, but that he will pour upon them the full viols of his wrath? If he so severely chastiseth sin in his sons and friends, how grievously will he punish it, in slaves and enemies? examples hereof we have in Adam, David, Hezekiah, the people of Israel, and Christ himself.
The second thing to be obserued is, that the Lord will not presently be reconciled with his people, and shew vnto 1them the wonted signes of his fauour, till he hath taken tryall of their repentance by manifold afflictions; and this he doth not so much to approue their vnfayned repentance to himselfe, for hee searcheth the heart and raignes, and therefore needeth not these outward signes; but first that by these signes, their owne faith may be assured, that they are truely conuerted, seeing they endure the tryall with patience, because they haue sinned. Secondly, that he may shew his detestation of sinne, in that he will not easily be reconciled, euen with those whom hee dearely loueth, when they haue grieuously offended Thirdly, that by these corrections he may make them carefull for the time to come, that they doe not againe by their sinnes prouoke his displeasure; for hee that with a wounded conscience and broken spirit, hath long sought and sued for mercie, and hath spent many a bitter sigh and grieuous grone before hee could attaine vnto the assurance of gods fauour, hauing obtained it will not easily be ⟨p. 25⟩allured againe by his sinnes to hazard and loose it. Fourthly that hereby he may glorifie his name, by approuing his iustice and righteous iudgements euen to those that are with out, when as they see that he will not winke at sinne, no not in his dearest children; who otherwise would take occasion vpon their sinne and impunitie to blaspheme. 2 Sam. 12. 14. 2Lastly, that hee may hereby teach the wicked what they are to expect, for if the Lord so correcteth those sinnes in his children which of infirmitie they haue committed, how will hee punish the sinnes of wicked men which they commit with full consent of will? If he be displeased with the faithfull, and will not presently assure them of his fauour, after they haue repented, then what can they looke for that continue in their sinnes without repentance, but that he will poure vpon them the full viols of his wrath? If he so seuerely chastiseth sinne in his sonnes and friends, how grieuously will he punish it, in slaues and enimies? examples hereof we haue in Adam, Dauid, Ezechias, the people of Israell, and Christ himselfe.
- 1God trieth our Repentance by afflictions before he restoreth us to favour.God trieth our Repentance by afflictions before he restoreth vs to fauour.
- 22 Sam. 12. 14.
