A third property of divine teaching, It is an experimental teaching. 1The soul can speak experimentally of the truths it knows, it is good for me, saith David, 2that I have been afflicted; why, but may not any man say as much as that? yes, few men there are but have the Notion in their heads, & in their lips: I but mark I pray, the Psalmist speaks experimentally to the point, and doth instance the good which he had gained by affliction; I have learned thy statutes. He had learned more acquaintance with the word, more delight in the word, more conformity to the word. He knew it more, and loved it better, and was more transformed into the nature of it, then ever, &c. So Psal. 116.6. The Lord preserveth the simple, i. e. God stands by his upright hearted ones to ⟨p. 138⟩secure them from violence: a good notion; but any man may have it in the proposition; I but David hath it in the experience, I was brought low and he helped me; my faith was brought low, and my comfort was brought low, and my resolutions were brought low, my feet had wellnigh slipped. Psal. 73.2. but God helped my faith, revived my comfort, strengthened my resolutions, and stablished my feet: thou hast holden me by my right hand, 3vers 23. Thus St. Paul, I know whom I have believed, &c. I have experienced his faithfulness and his All-sufficiency: I dare trust my All with him. I am sure, he will keep it safe to that day. And thus they that are taught of God in affliction can speak experimentally, in one degree or other, of the gains and privileges of a suffering condition: they can speak experimentally of Communion with God, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 4I will fear no evil; why? for thou art with me: I have had comfortable experience of ⟨p. 139⟩thy upholding, counselling, comforting presence with me in my deepest desertions: so of other fruits of affliction, this I had, Psal. 119.56. this I have got by my sufferings, I bless God I have learned more patience, humility, self-denial, &c. to be more sensible of my Brethren's sufferings, to sit looser to the World, to mind duty, and to trust safely with God, to prepare for death, and to provide for eternity, one way or other it is good for me; I could not have been without this affliction, &c.
A third property of divine teaching, It is an experimental teaching. 1The soul can speak experimentally of the truths it knows, it is good for me, saith David, 2that I have been afflicted; why, but may not any man say as much as that? yes, few men there are but have the Notion in their heads, & in their lips: I but mark I pray, the Psalmist speaks experimentally to the point, and doth instance the good which he had gained by affliction; I have learned thy statutes. He had learned more acquaintance with the word, more delight in the word, more conformity to the word. He knew it more, and loved it better, and was more transformed into the nature of it, then ever, &c. So Psal. 116.6. The Lord proserveth the simple, i. e. God stands by his upright hearted ones to ⟨p. 138⟩secure them from violence: a good notion; but any man may have it in the proposition; I but David hath it in the experience, I was brought low and he helped me; my faith was brought low, and my comfort was brought low, and my resolutions were brought low, my feet had welnigh slipt. Psal. 73.2. but God helpt my faith, revived my comfort, strengthened my resolutions, and stablisht my feet: thou hast holden me by my right hand, 3vers 23. Thus St. Paul, I know whom I have beleeved, &c. I have experienc't his faithfulness and his All-sufficiency: I dare trust my All with him. I am sure, he will keep it safe to that day. And thus they that are taught of God in affliction can speak experimentally, in one degree or other, of the gains and priviledges of a suffering condition: they can speak experimentally of Communion with God, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 4I will fear no evil; why? for thou art with me: I have had comfortable experience of ⟨p. 139⟩thy upholding, councelling, comforting presence with me in my deepest desertions: so of other fruits of affliction, this I had, Psal. 119.56. this I have got by my sufferings, I bless God I have learned more patience, humility, self-denial, &c. to be more sensible of my Brethrens sufferings, to sit looser to the World, to minde duty, and to trust safely with God, to prepare for death, and to provide for eternity, one way or other it is good for me; I could not have been without this affliction, &c.
- 13d property experimental.
- 2Psal. 119.71
- 32 Tim. 1.22.
- 4Psal. 23 4
