But lest God's children should despair when they are judged and sharply corrected of him, he adds, in the next place, the comfort ; howsoever things fall out, our salvation is promoted. ' When we are judged,' and chastened of the Lord, ' it is that we should not be condemned with the world.'
First, of the cause. ||
I will speak briefly.of the former verse, but dwell most upon the next, of self-judging. ' For this cause many are weak and sick, and many sleep.' Observe here in the cause.
* That is, celebration of the sacrameut. Cf. preliminary note t- — G. t ' By . . . assistance ' omitted in B, C, and for ' we ' is substituted ' I.' — G. X ' Text ' in B, C ; and the sentence, ' and speak somewhat of the other words.' — G.
§ ' Their unprepared coming,' &c., in B, C. — G.
II ' Observe here ' in B, C, and ' I will speak ... in the cause,' omitted. — G.
78 judgment's reason.
Doct. (1.) First, when there is a cause, God uill correct; and rvhere there is this cause, he ivill correct, that is, irreverent coming to the communion.
Doct. (2.) Secundlij, As there is a cause when God doth correct, so usually there is this or that particular cause.
For the first, where thex-e is cause he will correct, and where there is this cause. Where there is no cause he will not correct. ' For this cause.' There is always a cause, and a particular cause, [and a particular cause of God's judgment isj*
Qiu'^t. Why must there be alway a cause ?
Ans. Because God is the judge of the world, and the judge of the world must needs do that which is right, Gen. xviii. 25. And therefore he will not judge without a cause, f We have ill in us, before we suffer ill. God is forced to mortify sins by afflictions, because we mortify them not by the Spirit, and in the use of holy means. There is a cause always. X God doth favours from his own bowels, and from his own nature ; but he_' never correcteth without a cause from us. Corrections and judgments are always forced. It is a stranger ^ work to him than favours that come from his own nature as a gracious God, and therefore the cause of his judgment is always in us. But when he is beneficial to us, it comes from himself, as water comes from a fountain.
Instruction. This should teach us in all visitations to justify God, and to take heed of that ivhich our nature is projie to, of swelling and murmuring, and rising up against God. Just thou art, and righteous are thy judgments. ' I will bear the wrath of the Lord, because I have sinned,' &c., as it is said, Micah vii. 9. Let us lay our hand upon our mouth, and justify God in all his visitations. There is a cause.
And not only a cause at random, but if we search ourselves there is this or that particular cause. So 2 Thes. ii. 10 it is said, ' For this cause God gave them up to strong delusions, because they entertained not the truth in the love of it.' There is a ' this ;' for God shoots not his judgments, as children shoot their arrows, at random, light where they will ; but he hath his aim. Quest. How shall we find out that ' this' ?
Ans. 1. Our consciences icill upbraid its. If we be well acquainted with our consciences, we shall know it by them, as Joseph's brethren did. It was because they used their brother hardly many years before, Gen. xlii. 21.
2. Again, ivhat the tvord meets most with when ive hear it.
3. And what our friends tell us most of.
4. And ivhat our enemies upbraid us most with.
5. That ice may hwiv the cause, ire may knotv the sin by the contrary. God cures contraries with contraries. We may read ofttimes the cause in the judgment. Is the judgment shame ? Then the cause was piride. Is the judgment want ? Then our sin was in abundance. We did not learn to abound as we should when we had it. It is an ordinary rule, contraries are cured with contraries. Usually God meets with men, he pays them home in theii' own coin and kind. Those that have been unmerciful, they shall meet with those that shall shew them no mercy, &c. § By searching into our own hearts, by considering these things, we may know what is the ' this,' the particular cause.
* The words enclosed added in B, C, intended to link on to the sentence interrupted by the question, Why, &c. — G.
t ' And therefore . . . cause,' omitted in B, C. — G.
'X ' There is . . . always,' omitted in B, C— G. ^ ' Strange' in G — G.
I The ' &c.' characteristic of Sibbes's style omitted in B, C. — G.
JUDGMENT S REASON. 79
And, if wc fail in the search, then go to God, that he would teach us, as well as he corrects us, as usually he doth his children : Ps. xciv. 12, * Blessed is the man that thou correctcst and teachest.' Desire God that unto coi'rection he would add teaching, that we may know what the mean- ing of the rod and of the cross is. Whatsoever it is, if we join prayer with the other means, we may know the ' this,' the jiarticular sin that God aims at. So you see these things * clear, that there is a cause, and usually the ' this,' some particular cause.