2. For purgation : to purge our corrup- tion. Ardet pakn, purgatur aurum, Isa. xxvii. 9., " And this is all the fruit, to take away his sin." The eye, though it be a tender part, yet when it is sore, we put sharp powders and \A'aters into it, to eat out the pearl : though the people of God are dear to him, yet, when conniption be- gins to grow in them, he will apply the sharp powder of affliction, to eat out the pearl in tlie eye. Affliction is God's flail to thrash off our husks ; it is a means God useth to purge out sloth, luxury, pride and love of the world. " God's fire is in Zion," Isa. xxxi. 9. This is not to consume, but to refine; what if we have more affliction, if by this means we have less sin.
3. For augmentation : to increase tlio graces of the Spirit. Grace thrives most in the iron furnace ; sharp frosts nourish the corn, so do sharp afflictions grace ; grace in the saints is often as fire hid in the embers, affliction is the bellows to blow- it up into a flame. The Lord makes the house of bondage a friend to our grace ; now faith and patience act their part ; the dark- ness of the night cannot hinder the bright- ness of a star, so, the more the diamond ia cut the more it sparkles, and the more God afflicts us, the more our graces cast a sj)ark- ling lustre.
4. For preparation : to fit and prepare the saints for glory, 2 Cor. iv. 17. These stones which are cut out for a building are first hewn and squared : the godly are call- ed ' living stones,' 1 Pet. ii. 5. And God doth first hew and polish them by affliction that they may be fit for the heavenly build- ing ; the house of bondage prepares for the " house not made witii hands," 2 Cor. v. 1. The vessels of mercy aie seasoned with af-
232
OF THE PREFACE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
fliction, and then the wine of glory is pour- ed in.
Quest. 2. Hotu do the qffliclions of the godhj differ from the nffUctionx of the wicked?
Ans. 1. These are but castigations, — those on the wicked are punishments ; these coine from a fatlier, — those from a judge.
A. 2. Afflictions on the godly are fruits of covenant-mercy, 2 Sam. vii. 14. But afflictions on the wicked are effects of God's wrath, Eccl. V. 17., " He liath much wratli with his sickness." Afflictions on tlie wick- ed are the pledge and earnest of hell ; they are like the pinioning of a malefactor, which doth presage his execution.
A. 3. Afflictions on the godly make them better, but afflictions on the wicked make them worse ; the godly pray more, Ps. cxxx. 1., the wicked blaspheme more, Rev. xvi. 9., " Men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God." Af- flictions on the wicked make them more impenitent; every plague upon Egypt in- creased the plague of hardness in Pharaoh's heart. To what a prodigy of wickedness do some persons come after great sickness ? Affliction on the godly is like bruising of spices, which are most sweet and fragrant; affliction on the wicked is like stamping of weeds with a pestle, which makes them more unsavoury.
Use \st. It shews us, that we are not to wonder to see Israel in the house of bon- dage, 1 Pet. iv. 12. The holiness of the saints will not excuse them from sufferings. Christ was the holy one of God, yet he was in the iron furnace : Christ's spouse is a lily thorns, Cant. ii. 2. His sheep,
among
though ihey have the ear-mark of election upon them, yet may have their wool fleeced off; the godly have some good in them, therefore the devil afflicts them, and some evil in them, thercfoie (iod afflicts tlicin. While there are two seetls in the world, expect to be under the black rod. The gos- pel tells us of reigning, but iirst of sufl'er- ing, 2 Tim. ii. 12.
Branch 2. It informs us, that affliction is
in an afflicted state. When the Barbarians saw the viper on Paul's hand, they said, " No doubt this man is a murderer," Acts xxviii. 4., so, when we see the viper of af- fliction fasten upon the godly, we are apt to censure them, and say, these are greater sinners than others, and God hates them ; this rash censuring is for want of wisdom. Were not Israel in the house of bondage ? Jeremiah in the dungeon ? Paul a night and a day in the deep ? (iod's afflicting is so far from evidencing hatred, that liis not afflict- ing is, Hos. iv. 14., " I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom." Deus max'ime irascitur cum non i/asvitnry Bern. God puiiislieth most when he doth not punish ; his hand is heaviest when it seems to be lightest; the judge will not burn him in the hand wliom he intends to exe- cute.