(3.) It is a learning time. This the scripture witnesseth everywhere : Ps. cxix. 71, ' It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes ; ' Ps. xciv. 12, ' Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, 0 Lord, and teachest him out of thy law.' God teacheth us, though he teach us as Gideon did the men of Snccoth, with briars and thorns ; and we read of Christ Jesus himself, Heb. v. 8, ' He learned obedience from the things which he sufi'ered ; ' he did experi- mentally understand what obedience was in hard and difficult cases,
272 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XXXVII.
and BO could the better pity and help sinners when they obey God at a dear rate. In affliction we have an experimental knowledge of that of which but a notional knowledge before. We come by experience to see how false and changeable the world is, what a burden sin is, what sweetness there is in the promises, what a reality in the world to come, how comfortable an interest in God is. Luther said, Qici trihulantur sacras scripturas melius intelligunt ; securi et fortunati eas legunt sicui Ovidii carmen — ' The afflicted see more in the scriptures than others do ; the secure and fortunate read them as they do Ovid's verses.' Certainly, when the soul is humble, and we are refined and purified from the dregs of sense, we are more tractable and teachable, our understand- ings are clearer, and our affections more melting. Now spiritual learn- ing is a blessing that cannot be valued enough. If God write his law on our hearts by his stripes on our backs, we have no reason to complain.
(4.) It is a repenting time, to stir up the hatred of sin by the bitter effects of it : Jer. ii. 19, ' Now know what an evil and bitter thing it is that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee.' Weigh with thyself what hath brought all these evils upon thee. Experience teaclieth fools : so Lam. iii. 39, ' Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sin?' He hath no reason to murmur against God, when he considereth his own deserts, and that he suffereth nothing but what he hath produced to himself by his sins ; and therefore we ought to have deep shame and sorrow lor our former miscarriages. It conduceth to breed true remorse to con- sider our folly, and the misery brought upon us thereby : Jer. xxxi. IS, ' Surely I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus. Thou hast chas- tised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : •turn tliou me, and I shall be turned ; thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented ; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh ; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.'
(5.) It is a weaning time, from the pleasures and conveniences of the present world. First, The pleasures of the world. Pleasure is the great sorceress that hath enchanted all mankind ; they all court plea- sure, though in different shapes ; it is deeply engrained in our nature, and the cause of our many miscarriages : Titus iii. 3, ' Serving divers lusts and pleasures ; ' and because we have divers pleasui'es, God sendeth divers afflictions. The soul is almost so sunk in flesh that it ceasetli to be spirit, John iii. 6. Pleasure is that which draweth us off from God, and engageth us in the creature : James i. 14, ' But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.' Now, among the divers afflictions, diseases are natural penances which God hath put upon us to reclaim us from vain pleasures. The gust of the flesh would be too strong, if God did not check it by embittering our portion in the world. Secondly, The conveniences of the present life — riches, honours, friendships. Afflictions are sent to cure our carnal complacency, and increase the heavenly mind. Eiches : Heb. x. 34, 'And took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.' Kelations, possessions: 1 Cor. vii. 29-31, 'The time is short; it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none, and they
VeR. 28.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 273
that weep as though they wept not, and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not, and they that buy as though they possessed not, and they that use this world as not abusing it ; for the fashion of this world passeth away.' Friendship, John xvi. 32. Doting on the creature is spiritual adultery : James iv. 4, ' Ye adulterers and adul- teresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God ? Whoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.' If an image of jealousy be set up, God will blast it ; he turn- eth the world loose upon us, so that friends prove as broken reeds. It is easy for God to prosper his people in the world, and suit all things to their own desires ; but he kaoweth our proneness to carnal love, and how easily our heart is enticed from himself. Our temptations would be too strong if the world did appear in an over-amiable, tempting dress ; therefore he doth exercise us sometimes with the malicious, envious world ; sometimes with the cares, griefs, pains, disappointments, which are incident to the present life ; and will show us what a restless, empty world we have here, that we may the more earnestly look after those peaceful regions which are above.