1 93. Our whole life under the gospel should be nothing but thankfulness and fruitfulness. Take heed, therefore, of turning the grace of God to wantonness. The state of the gospel requires ' that we should deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live righteously and soberly and godly in the present world,' &c., Titus ii. 12. Therefore, when we find our- selves otherwise, we should think. Oh ! this is not the life of a Christian under the gospel : the gospel requires a more fruitful, a more zealous car- riage, more love to Christ, &c.
194. If any man be so uncivil, when a man shews him a spot on his garment, that he grows choleric, will we not judge him an unreasonable man ? And so, when a man shall be told this will hinder your comfort another day, if men were not spiritually besotted, would they swell and be angry against such a man ? Therefore take the benefit of the judgment of others among whom we live. This was David's disposition, when he was told of the danger, going to kill Nabal and his household. So we should bless God, and bless them that labour by their good counsel and advice, to hinder us from any sinful course, whatsoever it is.
195. Those that truss up the loins of their souls, and are careful of their ways, they are the only sound Christians, They are the only com- fortable Christians, that can think of all conditions and of all estates com- fortably.
196. It is an ill time to get grace when we should use grace ; and there- fore that we may have the less to do, when we shall have enough to strug- gle with sickness ; and that we may have nothing else to do when we die, but to die, and comfortably to yield up our souls to God, let us be exact in our accounts every day.
197. God takes a safe course with his children, that they may not be condemned with the world. He makes the world to condemn them, that they may not love the world : he makes the world to hate them, that they may not love the woi'ld, but be crucified to the world. He makes the world to be crucified to them. Therefore they meet with crosses, and abuses, and wrongs in the world. Because he will not have them perish with the world, he sends them afflictions in the w^orld, and by the world.
198. If God should not meet with us with seasonable correction, we
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should shame religion, and shame Christ ; and therefore God in mercy corrects us with fatherly correction.
199. In the governing of a Christian life we are carried naturally to second causes, whereas they are all but as rods in God's hands. Look, therefore, to the hand that smites ; look to God in all. He chastiseth us, as David saith in the matter of Shimei, 2 Sam. xvi. 10 ; and as Job saith, ' It is the Lord that hath given, and the Lord that hath taken away,' Job i. 21.
200. We have oftentimes occasion to bless God more for ci'osses than for comforts. There is a blessing hidden in, the worst things to God's children, as there is a cross in the best things to the wicked. There is a blessing in death, a blessing in sickness, a blessing in the hatred of our enemies, a blessing in all losses whatsoever ; and therefore in our affections we should not only justify God, but glorify and magnify him for his mercy, that rather than we should be condemned with the world, he will take this course with us.
201. Though our salvation be sure, and that we shall not be condemned with the world, yet the knowledge of this doth not make us secure ; for though God doth not damn us with the world, yet he will sharply correct us here. And by a careful, sober life we might obtain, many blessings, and prevent many judgments, and make our pilgrimage more comfortable. Therefore it argues neither grace nor wit, that because God will save me, therefore I will take Hberty. No ; though God will save thee, yet he will [take] such a course with thee, thou shalt endure such sharpness for thy sin, that it shall be more bitter than the sweetest of it was pleasant.
202. Gracious persons in times of peace and quiet do often underprize themselves, and the graces of God in them, thinking that they want faith, patience, and love, who yet, when God calleth them out to the cross, shine forth in the eyes of others, in the example of a meek and quiet subjection.
203. God oftentimes maketh wicked men friends to his children without changing their disposition, by putting into their hearts some conceit for the time, which inclineth them to favour, as Nehemiah ii. 8. God put it into the king's heart to favour his people ; so Gen. xxxiii. 4, Esau was nob changed, only God for the time changed his affections to favour Jacob. So God puts into the hearts of many groundedly naught,* to favour the best persons.
204. Usually in what measure we in the times of our peace and liberty inordinately let loose our affections, in that measure are we cast down, or more deeply in discomfort. When our adulterous hearts cleave to things more than become chaste hearts, it makes the cross more sharp and extreme.