A remedy against despair. Or Brief discourse wherein great sinners are encouraged, and directed…

DOCT. II. When God brings outward troubles on his People, these Sins of theirs may peculiarly trouble them. Thus it was with the Psalmist at this time; and this gave the Occasion for his putting up the petition in our Text. God sometimes brings personal afflictions on his own, for their trial, as he did upon Job; and yet then it is good for them to make a diligent search after Sin in themselves. But very often they are the corrections which he lays on them for some bold transgressions of theirs: and, because he intends to use ⟨p. 13⟩them for their Correction and amendment, he therefore gives them some notice or other about those Sins, either by his Word and Ordinances, directing his Servants to meet with them, or in the very Language of the Providences themselves; with which he toucheth their Consciences, and makes them reflect, and charge such Sins upon themselves. Thus he did unto David, by Nathan in, 2 Sam. 12. begin ▪ and by Gad, when he had numbered the People, Chap. 24.10. And when it is so, they are more distressed with the consideration of their sin, than with the affliction that is procured by it. Yea this is it which puts the greatest bitterness into the affliction it self, and well it may, because hereby they discern anger in the rod, which is more terrible to them than all the rage of Death and Hell: yea they could be contented to be corrected, so they might but be assured that it were not in wrath, but in love and compassion; hence that request of the Prophet, Jer 10.24. Oh Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing

DOCT. II. When God brings outward troubles on his People, these Sins of theirs may peculiarly trouble them. Thus it was with the Psalmist at this time; and this gave the Occasion for his putting up the petition in our Text. God sometimes brings personal afflictions on his own, for their tryal, as he did upon Job; and yet then it is good for them to make a diligent search after Sin in themselves. But very often they are the corrections which he lays on them for some bold transgressions of theirs: and, because he intends to use ⟨p. 13⟩them for their Correction and amendment, he therefore gives them some notice or other about those Sins, either by his Word and Ordinances, directing his Servants to meet with them, or in the very Language of the Providences themselves; with which he toucheth their Consciences, and makes them reflect, and charge such Sins upon themselves. Thus he did unto David, by Nathan in,