A81235:73
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.
But now affliction sanctified, as it doth deaden the heart to the world, so it doth awaken and intender Conscience towards sin; 1the Soul is made sensible of her departures from God, and of the bitter fruits of that departure, and now begins to lament after God in Augustin's language; Lord, thou hast made my heart for thy self, ⟨p. 47⟩and it is restless and unquiet till it can rest in thee; Return unto thy rest O my Soul. The Soul hath many turnings and windings, but with Noah's Dove, it can find no place for the sole of its foot to rest on, till it return into the Ark, from whence it came. And now when the Soul hath been weather-beaten abroad, if God will please to put forth his hand, and take it into himself, 2when dearest relations are become strangers, as David complains; if God come and give the Soul a visit; when the poor creature is in darkness, and can see no light, then for God to lift up the light of his countenance, and shine in a gracious smile upon the Soul, and say unto it, I am thy Salvation, of what sweet and unspeakable refreshment and consolation is this to the afflicted spirit? And what a gracious condescension is this in God, that when the Soul by prosperity hath waxed wanton against Christ, and sported it self in unspouse-like familiarities with strangers, Jesus Christ should send it into ⟨p. 48⟩the house of Correction, and there by the discipline of the Rod correct and work out the wantonness of the flesh, and when he hath made it meet for his presence, take it into sweet and social communion with himself! This is stupendous Mercy, Goodness that cannot be paralleled in the whole Creation.3
But now affliction fanctified, as it doth deaden the heart to the world, so it doth awaken and intender Conscience towards sin; 1the Soul is made sensible of her departures from God, and of the bitter fruits of that departure, and now begins to lament after God in Augustin's language; Lord, thou hast made my heart for thy self,