Ver.4.] AFFLICTIONS A SOURCE OF DISQUIETMENT. 579
brought me home again empty : why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?" Ruth i. 20, 21. So was it with Job, with the widow of Zarephath, and with her at Nain who was burying her only child. And still in many afflictions God is pleased to put in an entangling specialty, which perplexeth the soul, and darkens it in all its reasonings about the love of God towards it and its interest in pardon and grace.
8. In some, affections are very strong and importunate as fixed on lawful things, whereby their nature is made sensible and tender, and apt to receive very deep impressions from urgent afflictions. Now, although this in itself be a good natural fi'ame, and helps to preserve the soul from that stout-heartedness which God abhors, yet if it be not watched over, it is apt to perplex the soul with many entangling temptations. The apostle intimates a double evil that we are ob- noxious unto under trials and afflictions, Heb. xii. 5, " My son, de- spise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him." Men may either, through a natural stoutness, despise and contemn their sufferings, and be obstinate under them, or faint and despond ; and so come short of the end which God aims at for them, to be attained in a way of duty. Now, though the frame spoken of be not obnoxious unto the first extreme, yet it is greatly to the latter ; which, if not watched against, is no less per- nicious than the former. Affections in such persons being greatly moved, they cloud and darken the mind, and fill it with strange apprehensions concerning God and themselves. Every thing is pre- sented unto them through a glass composed of fear, dread, terror, sor- row, and all sorts of disconsolations. This makes them faint and de- spond, unto very sad apprehensions of themselves and their conditions.
4. Afflictions find some entangled with very strong corruptions, — as love of the world, or the pleasure of it, of name or reputation, of great contrivances for posterity, and the like; or it may be in things carnal or sensual Now, when these unexpectedly meet together, — great afflictions and strong corruptions, — it is not conceivable what a combustion they will make in the soul. As a strong medicine or potion meeting with a strong or tough distemper in the body, — there is a violent contention in nature between them and about them, so that oftentimes the very life of the patient is endangered ; so it is where a great trial, a smart stroke of the hand of God, falls ujDon a person in the midst of his pursuit of the effects of some corruptions, — the soul is amazed even to distraction, and can scarce have any thought but that God is come to cut the person off in the midst of his sin. Every unmortified corruption fills the very fear and ex2:)ec- tation of affliction with horror. And there is good reason that so it should do; for although God should be merciful unto men's ini-
580 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver.4.
quities, yet if he should come to take vengeance of their invention?, their condition wouhl be dark and sorrowful.
5. Satan is never wanting in such occasions to attempt the com- passing of his ends upon persons that are exercised under the hand of God. In the time of suffering it was that he fell upon the Head of the church, turning it into the very hour of the power of darkness. And he will not omit any appearing opportunities of advantage against his members. And this is that which he principally, in such seasons, attacks them withal, — namely, that God regards them not, that they are fallen under his judgment and severity, as those who have no share in mercy, pardon, or forgiveness.
From these and the like reasons, I say, it is, that whereas afflictions in general are so testified unto, to be such pledges and tokens of God's love and care, to be designed unto blessed ends as conformity unto Christ, and a participation of the holiness of God ; yet, by reason of these circumstances, they often prove means of casting the soul into depths, and of hindering it from a refreshing interest iu the for- giveness that is with God.^ That this may prove no real or abiding ground of inward spiritual trouble unto the soul, the following rules and directions may be observed:' —
1. Ifot only afflictions in general, hut g^^eat and manifold afflic- tions, and those attended with all soi^is of aggravating circumstances, are always consistent witJi, the j^aixlon of sin, after [often?] signal tokens andj^ledges of it, and of the love of God therein : Job vii. 17, 18, " What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? and that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?" What were the con- siderations that cast him into this admiration of the care and love of God is expressed, verses 12-16. j^here are no words of a more dismal import in the whole book 'than those here expressed: yet, Avhen he recollected himself from his overwhelming distress, he ac- knowledgeth that all this proceeded from the love and care of God ; yea, his fixing his heart upon a man to magnify' him, to- set him up and do him good. For this end doth he chasten a man every morning, and try him every moment; and that^'ith such afflictions as are for the present so far from being joyous as that they give no rest, but even weary the soul of life, as he expresseth their effects on himself, verses 15, 16, And hence it is observed of this Job, that when none in the earth w^as like to him in trouble, God gave him three testi- monies from heaven that there was none in the earth like unto him in grace. And although it may not be laid down as a general rule, yet for the most part in the providence of God, from the foundation of the world, those who have had most of afflictions have had most of grace and the most eminent testimonies of acceptance with God.