5. God has Promised, That all the Afflictions which his Children meet with, shall be Profitable unto them. God, can bring light out of darkness, and good out of evil. He can call things that are not, as though they were. He can cause those things to be for us, which seem to be most against us. The loss of Joseph, was a great trouble to Jacob; yet 'twas leading to the preservation of Jacob's Life, and of his Posterity's also. All things are possible with God, nothing is too hard for him. And this God who can do whatsoever he will, has declared, Rom. 8.28. All things shall work together for good, to those that Love God, and are called according to his purpose. Why does God Afflict his Children? Is it because he hates them? Or because he grudges Prosperity to them? No indeed, he Loves 'm as the Apple of his Eye. He does not Afflict willingly, nor grieve the ⟨p. 15⟩Children of Men, Judg. 10.16. His Soul was grieved for the Misery of Israel. In all their Afflictions he was Afflicted. Tis, if need be, that he Afflicts the Saints, 1 Pet. 1.6. Tis out of Love to their Souls, and for their good. Whom the Lord Loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth. He Afflicts them, to purge away Iniquity, and take away Sin, Isa. 27.5. He chastens 'm, That they may not be condemned with the World, 1 Cor. 11.32. He does it for their profit, to make 'm partakers of his Holiness, Heb. 12.10. God Loves his Children, even when he severely chastens them, every whit as well, as he does at any other time. He never sends trouble on them, but he designs it for good, and will do good to them thereby. He sends Affliction, as Physic, as Medicine for the good of their Souls: Sometimes as Sanative or Restorative Physic. He sometimes chastens them, to awaken them out of their dull, drowsy, secure frames; to humble them for their past Sins; and to get their hearts more intensely see, upon Spiritual things. He does it, To Humble them, prove them, and do them good at their latter end, Deut. 8.16. Sometimes he sends trouble, as Preventive Physic, to Prevent their Sinning. Paul's Thorn in the flesh was sent, lest he should be exalted above measure, 2 Cor. 12.7. Twas to prevent his being Proud, and High-rounded. It may be God who sees the falseness, and naughtiness of our hearts, takes away ⟨p. 16⟩our Health, Credit, Estate, Dearest Relatives, or some desirable Enjoyments or other;
5. God has Promised, That all the Afflictions which his Children meet with, shall be Profitable unto them. God, can bring light out of darkness, and good out of evil. He can call things that are not, as though they were. He can cause those things to be for us, which seem to be most against us. The loss of Joseph, was a great trouble to Jacob; yet 'twas leading to the preservation of Jacob's Life, and of his Posterity's also. All things are possible with God, nothing is too hard for him. And this God who can do whatsoever he will, has declared, Rom. 8.28. All things shall work together for good, to those that Love God, and are called according to his purpose. Why does God Afflict his Children? Is it because he hates them? Or because he grudges Prosperity to them? No indeed, he Loves 'm as the Apple of his Eye. He does not Afflict willingly, nor grieve the ⟨p. 15⟩Children of Men, Judg. 10.16. His Soul was grieved for the Misery of Israel. In all their Afflictions he was Afflicted. Tis, if need be, that he Afflicts the Saints, 1 Pet. 1.6. Tis out of Love to their Souls, and for their good. Whom the Lord Loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth. He Afflicts them, to purge away Iniquity, and take away Sin, Isa. 27.5. He chastens 'm, That they may not be condemned with the World, 1 Cor. 11.32. He does it for their profit, to make 'm partakers of his Holiness, Heb. 12.10. God Loves his Children, even when he severely chastens them, every whit as well, as he does at any other time. He never sends trouble on them, but he designs it for good, and will do good to them thereby. He sends Affliction, as Physick, as Medicine for the good of their Souls: Sometimes as Sanative or Restorative Physick. He sometimes chastens them, to awaken them out of their dull, drouzy, secure frames; to humble them for their past Sins; and to get their hearts more intensely see, upon Spiritual things. He does it, To Humble them, prove them, and do them good at their latter end, Deut. 8.16. Sometimes he sends trouble, as Preventive Physick, to Prevent their Sinning. Paul's Thorn in the flesh was sent, lest he should be exalted above measure,
