A81235:268
Correction, instruction or, a treatise of afflictions
Correction, instruction or, a treatise of afflictions: first conceived by way of private meditations: afterward digested into certain sermons, preached at Aldermanbury. And now published for the help and comfort of humble suffering Christians. By Tho. Case, M.A. sometimes student of Ch. Ch. Oxon. now preacher of the Gospel in London.Correction, instruction or, a treatise of afflictions: first conceived by way of private meditations: afterward digested into certain sermons, preach'd at Aldermanbury. And now published for the help and comfort of humble suffering Christians. By Tho. Case, M.A. sometimes student of Ch. Ch. Oxon. now preacher of the Gospel in London.
London: printed by J.M. for Luke Fawn, 1652London: printed by J.M. for Luke Favvn, 1652
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. Consider, 1That bare deliverance is not the Blessing: I told you before, that deliverance alone is but the fruit of common bounty; Isle tell you more now: Deliverance alone may be the fruit of the Curse; a man may be delivered in wrath, and not in love; Deliverance from one affliction may but make way for another, for a greater; Affliction may return, like the unclean spirit, with seven more worse then it self: So God threatens an unteachable people; If by these things ye will not be reformed, but will walk contrary to me, cross my ⟨p. 236⟩design in my chastisements, then will I walk contrary to you, 2I will cross your design, and in stead of deliverance, I will punish you yet seven times more for your sins. The blessing of correction is instruction: O let not God go till he bless thee. It is a sad thing to have affliction, but not the blessing of affliction; to feel the wood of the Cross, but not the good of the Cross; to taste the bitter root, but not the sweet fruit of a suffering condition; the Curse, but not the Cordial. Truly in such a case one affliction may not only make way for another, for more, for greater; but affliction here may make way for damnation hereafter; and as one saith wittily, — by all the fire of affliction in this world, a man may be but parboiled for Hell. And therefore mind instruction, study the Lessons of a suffering condition, ut sup: and be importunate for nothing so much as to be taught of God; and to be taught not with a common teaching, but that special, Covenant, ⟨p. 237⟩saving teaching, which changeth the Soul into the nature of the Truth, and makes it holy as it is holy, and pure as it is pure, and heavenly as it is heavenly: He for our profit, 3that we might be partakers of his holiness.
2. Consider, 1That bare deliverance is not the Blessing: I told you before, that deliverance alone is but the fruit of common bounty; Ile tell you more now: Deliverance alone may be the fruit of the Curse; a man may be delivered in wrath, and not in love; Deliverance from one affliction may but make way for another, for a greater; Affliction may return, like the unclean spirit, with seven more worse then it self: So God threatens an unteachable people; If by these things ye will not be reformed, but will walk contrary to me, cross my