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BY this time, Reader, I suppose thou ar•• desirous to know what effects adversit•• and afflictions use to have when they mee•• with an honest and sincere heart; only be••fore I come to particulars, I think it needfu•••• to acquaint thee, That the fruits of afflictions are mostly after-fruits, and not so discerna••••••••
by the Christian himself under the rod, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after he hath been exercised by it, Heb. ••••. 11. and calmly reflects upon what is past; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doth every Christian attain the same easure and degree: some rejoyce, others ••mmonly submit: but I think these seven ••ects are ordinarily found in all upright ••earts that pass under the rod.
1. First, The sincere and upright soul be∣••••es its self to God in affliction, Iob 1. 20. ••hen God was smiting, Iob was praying: ••hen God afflicted, Iob worshipped: So David, ••al. 116. 3, 4. I found sorrow and trouble, ••en called I upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the name of the Lord; and ••hen the messenger of Satan buffeted Paul, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this cause (saith he) I besought the Lord ••rice 2 Cor. 12. 8. Alas, whither should a ••hild go in distress but to its Father?
2. Secondly, He sees, and owns the hand of ••od in his afflictions: how much or little ••ever of the instruments of trouble appear. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord hath taken away, saith Iob, Iob 1. ••. God hath bidden him, saith David▪ 2 ••••m. 16. 10. If the blow come from the ••nd of a wicked man, yet he sees that ••••cked hand in Gods righteous hand, Psal, ••. 14. And this apprehension is fundamental 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all that communion men have with God ••heir affl••ctions, & to all that peaceableness, ••••gracious submission of their spirits under 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rod, he that sees nothing of God in his trou∣••••s, hath nothing of God in his soul.
3. Thirdly, He can justifie God in all th•• afflictions and troubles that come up•• on him, be they never so severe. Thou ar•• just in all that is brought upon us, saith Nehemiah•• Nehem. 9. 33. Thou hast punished us less tha•• our iniquities deserve, saith Ezra, Ezra 9. 13▪ It is of the Lords mercy we are not consumed, saith the Church, Lam. 3. 22. Are we in Babylon? it's a mercy we are not in hell. If God con••demn him, yet he will justifie God: if God cast him into a sea of trouble, yet he will ac∣knowledge in all that sea of trouble, there i•• not one drop of injustice. If I have not de∣served such usage from the hands of men•• yet I have deserved worse than this at the hands of God.
4. Fourthly, Afflictions use to melt an•• humble gracious hearts: there is an habitu••al tenderness planted in their spirits, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 just occasion quickly draws it forth: and so usual a thing it is for gracious hearts to be humbled under the afflictings of God, that affliction is upon that score called humi∣liation: the effect put for the cause; to shew where one is, the other will be: 2 Cor. 12▪ 21. My God will humble me, (i. e.) he wil•• afflict me with the sight of your si••s, and disorders: and if a gracious soul b•• so ap•• to be humbled for other mens sins, much more for his own.
5. Fifthly, The upright soul is inquisitive
••••der the rod to find out that evil for ••hich the Lord contends with him by af∣••••••ction, Job 10. 2. shew me wherefore thou ••••ntendest with me: and Job 34. 31. that ••hich I see not, teach thou me: If I have done ••iquity, I will do no more. So Lam. 3. 39, 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us search and try our ways, and turn again 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Lord; in afflicting God searches them, ••nd under affliction they search themselves: ••illing they are to hear the voice of the rod, ••nd glad of any discovery it makes of ••heir hearts.
6. Sixthly, The upright heart chuseth to ••ye under affliction, •• rather than to be deli∣••ered from it by sin. I say this is the choice ••nd resolution of every upright heart, how∣••ver it may be sometimes over-born by the ••iolence of temptation, Heb. 11. 35. not ac∣••epting deliverence, viz. upon sinful terms, and ••onditions.
They are sensible how the flesh smarts ••nder the rod, but had rather it should smart, ••han conscience should smart under guilt. ••ffliction saith an upright soul grieves me, ••ut sin will grieve God; affliction wounds 〈◊〉〈◊〉, flesh, but sin will wound my soul. Deli∣••erance I long for, but I will not pay so ••ear for it, how much soever I desire it. Nolo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 emere paenitentaim: outward ease is ••weet, but inward peace is sweeter.
7. Seventhly, He prizeth the spiritual good
gotten by affliction, above deliverance fro•• it; and can bless God from his heart fo•• those mercies how near soever his flesh hat•• paid for them, Psal. 119. 67. and 71. It 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good for me that I have been afflicted. Such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the value the people of God have for sp••••ritual graces, that they cannot think the•••• a dear peny worth, whatever their flesh hat•• paid for them. The mortification of one Lus•• one discovery of sincerity, one manifesta•••• on of God to their souls, doth much mor•• than make amends for all that they hav•• endured under the rod.
Is patience improved, self-acquaintan•• increased, the vanity of the Creature mor•• effectually taught, longings after heaven i•• flamed? O blessed afflictions that are atten••∣ed with such blessed fruits! It was the say••ing of a holy man under a sore troubl•• for the death of an only Son; when in tha•• dark day God had graciously manifeste•• himself to his soul; O said he, I would b•• contented (if it were possible) to lay 〈◊〉〈◊〉 only Son in the grave every day I have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 live in the world, for one such discovery 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the love of God as I now enjoy.