When sanctified, are subservient and useful to faith, xiv. 419. Afflicted, is the Church's name (Isa. Iv. 11^ 12), ix. 16.
154 INDEX.
Afflicted, a man after God's own heart may be, vii, 421 ; because God hath chosen another way of expressing his love to his people than by out- ward things, ih. ; afflictions are necessary to the best, that the worth and benefit of God's word may be known, 422.
They see more in the scriptures than others do (Luther), xii. 272.
Afflicting, the end of God in, is to reduce his straying people into the right
way, vii. 223 ; man is of a straying nature, tb. ; the straying humour
is much increased and encouraged by prosperity, 224 ; when it is
thus with us, God seeth meet to send afflictions, 225 ; the affliction so
sent hath a notable use to reduce us to a sense and care of our duty, 226 ;
a means of the first conversion of many, 227 ; a great help to those
that are converted already, 228 ; the affliction doth not work thus of
itself, but as sanctified and accompanied with the Spirit of God, 229 ;
this benefit should be owned, and thankfully acknowledged as a great
^ testimony and expression of God's love to us, ib. ; at the first coming
• of the affliction we do not see the benefit so well as in tlie review
of the whole dispensation, 231 ; the profit is not only when the
affliction is upon us, but after it is over a fruit of it must remain, xh.
Affiiction, great comfort to the saints in, to know that they have a redeemer
living in heaven, ii. 294 ; this comfort applicable in all, 300.
A special allowance of comfort for God's children in, iii. 168.
Called temptation, in the proper sense of trial, iv. 27.
Comfort under, iv. 31 ; God's aim not destruction, but trial, ib. ; time of trial appointed, ib. ; God sitteth by the furnace looking after his metal, ib. ; trial not only to approve but to improve, ib. ; great wisdom needed for the right management of, 39.
In itself a punishment of sin, to the godly but a trial, iv. 75 ; cannot diminish a christian's happiness, 77 ; may sometimes increase it, ib. ; especially those he endures for Christ's sake, 78.
No disgrace, but sin is, vi. 494.
All things considered, is rather good than evil, vii. 251 ; good, as it is minus malum, keepeth us from greater evils, 255 ; because the evil in it is counterpoised by a greater amount of good, 256; time of, a serious thinking time, ib. ; a special hearing time, ib. ; an awakening, quickening time, 257 ; to acknowledge the good of, needs faith, 259 ; love, 260 ; spiritual wisdom, ib. ; diligence to observe and im- prove affliction, ib.
Not only determined by God in the general, but all the circumstances, time, measure, instruments, x. 118.
The greatest, better than the least sin, xiv. 450; reasons why, 451 : why this is the choice of the people of God, 454.
The need of faith in, xv, 121 ; the grounds and principles of faith in, 124 ; sometimes for our temporal good, usually for our spiritual good, but certainly for our eternal good, 128 ; the work of faith under, 131. Afflictions, why saints are subject to so many, i. 197 ; not to the completing of their justification, but to the furtherance of their sanctification, ib.
Humble us, but not so much as temptation, i. 214.
Sent to remove sin, i. 241 ; the eflfect of God's love, ib.
Not to be measured by the smart, but the end of them, i. 326.
To God's people, not only occasions of patience, but of all joy, iv. 23 ; how to be rejoiced in, ib. ; not barely in the evil of them, ib. ; but iu the happy effects, or consequents, or comforts, occasioned by them, 24 ; in those we suffer for Christ's sake, the honour done to us, ib. ;
INDEX. 155
the benefit the church receiveth, ib. ; the special comforts that God bestows, ih. ; in those that come from providence we are to rejoice, as they serve for the exercise and increase of grace, 25. Afflictions, oi God's children, not to be considered in their nature and beginning, but in their issue and end, iv. 432 ; the Lord will give a happy end to them all, a temporal end, a gracious end, a glorious end, ih.
Light on all ranks of saints, but especially on the prophets, iv. 427 ; almost as necessary a character of a minister to be much in, as to be much in spirit and much in labours, ib. ; meek patience in, a taking thing even in the eyes of men, 428 ; different judgment of the saints and of the world about, 429 ; make saints eminent, 430.
Comfort under, vi, 226 ; their author is our father, ib. ; they are neces- sary, 227 ; a medicine, not a poison, ih. ; they are in measure, ib. ; are an occasion for the comforts of the Spirit, ib. ; and for the sup- ports and influences of grace, ib. ; the fruit and final issue of, 228.