2. It is said here in the second place, that as they are corrections, so they are from God. We are chastened of the Lord. I will but touch it in a word, and that to help our forgetfulness in a main point. In the governing of a Christian life we are carried naturally to second causes. Now all second causes are but rods in God's hands. Look therefore to the hand that smites, look to God in all. He chastiseth us, as David said in the matter of Shimei, 2 Sam. xvi. 10 ; and as Job, ' It is the Lord that hath given, and the Lord hath" taken away,' Job i. 21. And so in benefits we should see God in all things, and think we are to deal with him. Our work lies in heaven, therefore in any visitation or cross, I beseech you, think of it. We are to deal with the great Mover of heaven and earth, that hath all second causes in his hand ; that hath the hearts of kings in his hand ; § and let us make our peace with him.
Qiiest. Why should we go to the Serjeant ? We should make our peace with the judge ; make not peace with the second causes, but with the principal. It is God that chastiseth ; let us make our peace there, |1 and he will take off the second cause. I cannot follow the point ; I beseech you think of it. We forget it in our practice, and that makes us so atheistical, as if there were not a God to govern the world, but we run presently upon second causes. 1l
Let us go on; God's corrections are but chastenings, and they are from him. And they are sanclijied of him, which is the main point, to preserve us from being damned with the world. These corrections are sanctified by God for that end.**
Quest. And how is that ?
Ans. 1. Because they embitter sinful courses tons. When we are crossed in ocir sinful courses, sinful com'ses are embittered unto us ; we grow out of love with them.
Ans. 2. And then again, these chastisements, they help us to relish heaven and heavenly things better. Oh ! then the word of God is the word of God indeed ; then Christ is Christ ; then heavenly things are heavenly things ;
* ' Chastising.' in B, C— G. f ' He lets them go on ' not in B, C— G,
X 'And many arguments to it,' with the next sentence, ' God shews," &c., not in B, C— G.
§ ' That hath the hearts,' &c., not in B, C— G. II ' Agree with him ' in B, C. — G. ^ ' Inferior things,' and ' I go on,' in B, C. — G. ** ' These ... end ' not in B, C— G.
106 judgment's reason.
then a messenger, one of a thousand, will he hoard, as Joh xxxiii. 23; then welcome the man of God all that time. When a man cannot relish earthly things, when he cannot take comfort by his friends, then welcome heavenly comforts. Chastisements, therefore, they help us, that we be not damned with the world, by making us out of love with vanities, that we shall not care for them. We see they do us good, to help us to relish heavenly things. Blessed are those corrections that are sanctified that way. We hear with other cars then. When wo have been in the fire, and God hath met with us by crosses, we hear with another manner of attention than at other times. Though* I might be large on the point, for it is very large, rather let us think of it to make use of it. Butf first to take away all objections, that I may fasten the comfort upon our souls the better, it may be objected,
Ohj. 1. Oh ! but it is such a correction as takes aivay my friends from me. I cannot have the use of my friends, as sometime in a noisome contagious disease.
Ans. What if thou hast no friends but God and his angels to help thee to heaven ? Whatsoever comfort God conveys by friends, he hath it in himself still ; and he can convey those immediate comforts which are most sweet, when they come from the spring ; when outward comforts fail, those are the best comforts. It is a greater grace for a prince to visit a sick body himself than to send a messenger to visit him. So when no man can come to us, God himself comes from heaven, and visits us by the comforts of the Holy Spirit ; and what do we loosej then ?
Obj. 2. Oh ! but it is a sharp affliction, a shai-p cross. ' Ans. Oh ! but it is a sweet hand it comes from. Shall not I take a cup out of a father's hand ? It is a bitter cup, but it is out of a father's hand, and therefore out of a loving hand. It is from love, and it is directed to my good, and it is sweetly tempered and mixed, and moderated ; and therefore if it come from love, and be directed to my good, and for the present be mixed and moderated? — why should I complain of the correc- tion, that is for mv good, to keep me that I should not be damned with the world ?