goes there this mortal shall put on Immortality Let us labour to be in the number of Gods Jewels that when the Lord shall make up his Jewels he may perfect our Souls and Bodies in Glory How shall we know that we are in the number of Gods Jewels Have we inherent Holiness 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are Sanctified We are not Jewels by Creation but Regeneration If Holiness sparkle in us it 's a sign we are Jewels and then when God comes to make up his Jewels he will put Glory upon our Souls and Bodies for ever CHAP. XIX The Third part of the Saints Reward Gods sparing them 3. THE Third part of the Saints reward is Gods Sparing them I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him The Hebrew word to spare signifies to use Clemency In this Phrase is a Meiosis there is less said and more intended I will spare them that is I will deal with them as a Father doth with his Son the same tenderness that a Father shews to his Child the same will I shew to them that Fear me God will deal with them that Fear him as a Father doth with his Son Two things are in this Proposition 1. That God is a Father He is a Father 1. By Creation he hath given us our Being Mal. 2.10 Have not we all one Father hath not one God created us 2. God is a Father by Election he hath culled out a certain number to be his Children Eph. 1.4 3. God is a Father by special Grace he stamps his impress of Holiness upon men Col. 3.10 All Gods Children resemble him though some are more like him than others 2. That God will deal with them that Fear him as a Father doth with his Son 1. God will accept them as a Father doth his Son If the Child doth but lisp and can hardly speak plain the Father takes all well so God as a Father will accept of what his Children do in sincerity Ezek. 20.40 There will I require your Offerings I will accept you with your sweet Savour 2. Such as Fear God he will be full of Bowels to them as a Father is to his Son There are in God 1. Bowels of Compassion 2. Bowels of Complacency 1. Bowels of Compassion A Father Compassionates his Child Sozomen makes mention of a Father who offered to be put to death for his two Sons who were sentenced to dye God hath soundings of Bowels Isa. 63.15 The Compassions of Parents are Steel and Marble compared with Gods Luke 1.78 Through the tender Mercy of our God in the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bowels of Mercy these Bowels make God sympathize with his Children in Misery he is touched in their wounds Psal. 103.13 As a Father pitieth his Children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him 2. In God are Bowels of Complacency How dearly did Iacob love Benjamin his life was bound up in him Gen. 44.30 All the Affections of Parents come from God they are but a drop of his Ocean a spark of his flame Gods love is a love that passeth Knowledge Ephes. 3.19 The Saints cannot Love their own Souls so intirely as God loves them In particular 1. God loves the persons of his Children they are the Apple of his Eye Zach. 2.8 He engraves them upon the Palms of his hands Isa. 49.16 It alludes to them who carry about them graven on the Stone of their Ring the Picture of some dear Friend whom they intirely affect 2. God loves the places his Children were born in the better for their sakes Psal. 87.2 God loves the Gates of Sion ver 5. This and that man was born in her i. e. This and that Believer God loves the very ground his Children go upon Why was Iudaea the Ancient seat of Israel called a delightsome Land Mal. 5.12 Not so much delightful for the fruit growing in it as for the Saints living in it 3. God so loves his Children that he chargeth the great ones of the World upon pain of death not to hurt them their persons are sacred Psalm 105.14 He reproved Kings for their sakes saying Touch not mine anointed By anointed are meant such as have the anointing of the Spirit 1 John 2.20 4. God delights in his Childrens company he loves to see their faces Cant. 2.24 Let me see thy Countenance If but two or three of Gods Children meet and pray together God will be sure to make one of the company Mat. 18.20 There am I in the midst of them 5. God so loves his Children that his Eye is never off them Psalm 33.18 The Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him But is this such a priviledge to have Gods Eye upon his Children Gods Eye is upon the Wicked too Answ. It is one kind of Eye that the Judge casts upon the Malefactor and another that the Prince casts upon his Favourite Gods Eye upon the Wicked is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Eye of Revenge but his Eye upon his Children is an Eye of Benediction 6. God sets a continual guard about his Children to preserve them from danger He hides them in his Pavilion Psalm 27.5 He covers them with the Golden Feathers of his Protection Psalm 91.4 God preserved Athanasius strangely he put it into his Mind to depart out of the House he was in the night before the Enemies came to search for him No Prince goes so well guarded as Gods Child for he hath a guard of Angels about him The Angels are a numerous guard 2 Kin. 6.17 The Mountain was full of Horses and Chariots of fire those Horses and Chariots of fire were the Angels of God gathered together in the manner of an huge host to defend the Prophet Elisha 7. God puts his Children in rich apparel Psalm 45.13 Her cloathing is of wrought Gold Jacob loved his Son Joseph and gave him a finer Coat to wear than the rest of his brethren Gen. 37.3 He made him a Coat of divers Colours God loves his Children and gives them a finer Coat more curiously Woven a Coat of divers Colours it is partly made of Christs Righteousness and partly made of inherent Holiness 8. Such is Gods love that he thinks nothing too Good for his Children he enricheth them with the upper and nether Springs he gives them the Kidneys of the Wheat and Hony out of the Rock he makes them a feast of fat things Isa. 25.6 He gives them the body and blood of his Son and delights to see his Children spreading themselves as Olive plants round about his Table 3. Such as are Fearers of God he will receive their Petitions from them as a Father doth from his Son they may come boldly to the throne of Grace Heb. 4.16 If they come for pardon of sin strength against Temptation God will not deny them Three things may cause boldness in prayer the Saints have a Father to pray to
RELIGION OUR TRUE INTEREST OR PRACTICAL NOTES UPON The Third Chapter of MALACHY THE Sixteen Seventeen and Eighteen VERSES Seasonable for the Times By THOMAS WATSON sometimes Minister of Stephens Walbrook Lond. PROV 14.27 The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life LONDON Printed by I. Astwood for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers-Chappel 1682. TO THE READER Christian Reader BOOKS are the Children of the Brain In this Writing Age ferè ad nauseam I intended my Pen should have been silent but the variety and Weightiness of this Subject as also the desire of some Friends did prevail with me to Publish it The main design of this excellent Scripture is to encourage Solid Piety and confute the Atheists of the World who imagine there is no gain in Godliness It was the Speech of King Saul to his Servants 1 Sam. 22.7 Will the Son of Iesse give every one of you Fields and Vineyards Will the World or mens Lusts give them such noble Recompences of Reward as God bestows upon his Followers Surely it is Holiness carries away the Garland As for this Treatise it comes abroad in a plain dress Truth like a Diamond Shines brightest in its native Lustre Saint Paul came not to the Corinthians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with excellency of Speech or the Pride of Oratory His Study was not to Court but Convert It is an unhappiness that in these Luxuriant times Religion should for the most part run either into Notion or Ceremony The Spirits of Religion are evaporated When Knowledge is turned into Taste and digested into Practice then it is Saving That God would accompany these few impolite Lines with the Operation and Benediction of his holy Spirit and make them edifying is the Prayer of him who is Thine in all Christian Service Thomas Watson Dowgate Nov. 22. 1681. THE TABLE ALPHABETICAL A ABusers of Gods Iewels Punished pag. 181. Afflictions have their Consolations p. 227 Apostacy dangerous p. 8 Appearance of sin to be shunned p. 47 Arguments to hold fast Integrity in evil times p. 7 Assurance and the Fear of God consistent p. 21 B BEst need Sparing p. 202 Bodies of the Saints shall be perfect p. 192 C CArnal Fear evil p. 14 Christians instead of speaking one to another speak one of another p. 89 Comfort when God saith Ye are mine p. 171 Covenant Vnion with God to be endeavoured p. 172 D DAy of Iudgment how far to be feared by a Child of God p. 71 Day of making up Gods Iewels p. 190 Death how far to be feared by a Child of God p. 67 Different carriage of God towards his Children and the Wicked p. 134 E EVil Thoughts are Punishable in Gods Court p. 111 Excellency of the Fear of God p. 29 Eyes of Sinners at present shut p. 209 F FEar of God Described p. 15 Fear of God is by a Trope put for all Religion ibid. Fear of God makes us Fear Sin p. 45 Fearing God and keeping his Commandments Conjoyned p. 54 Fear of God how to be attained p. 80 Fear of missing Heaven p. 78 Folly of Idolaters p. 136 Friends may be forgetful but God will not p. 150 G GOD deals with his Saints as a Father with his Son p. 195 God deals well with his People when he Afflicts them p. 217 God takes notice of the Good in his Children p. 130 Gods hearkning to us should make us hearken to him p. 138 God hath a Book of Remembrance for his People p. 140 Gods owning of his People p. 161 Gods Sparing them p. 201 Good Conference to be used p. 82 Graces of the Saints shall be perfect p. 191 H HAsty Words shew the Devil to be in the Tongue p. 87 Hearts Deceit p. 62 Heart not to be hardened against God p. 156 Helps to good Discourse p. 100 Helps to holy Thoughts p. 127 Hell how far to be Feared by a Believer p. 73 Honour attends Holiness p. 174 I IDle Talk Censured p. 85 Incitements to holy Thoughts p. 114 Ingredients into the Fear of God p. 16 Integrity to be preserved Inviolable p. 3 Iovial Sinners reproved p. 25 M MAking up of Gods Iewels what it implys p. 185 Maintain honourable Thoughts of God in Affliction p. 231 Matter of our Holy Musings p. 113 Means to be good in evil times p. 9 Mercies of God to be Recorded 149 Murmuring a God-provoking Sin p. 87 N NAme of God what it signifies p. 103 O OAths weigh heavy in Gods Balance p. 89 Omnisciency of God to be admired p. 132 P PRiviledges of being in Covenant with God p. 165 R REasons enforcing the Fear of God p. 19 S SAints should be sparing in their Censures of others p. 205 Saints have Gods Ear. p. 134 Saints Purgatory is in this Life p. 144 Saints Gods Iewels p. 175 Saints should shine as Iewels p. 183 Satans Snares p. 59 Scoffers the vilest of Sinners p. 28 Secure Sinners Characterized p. 27 Serve God as a Son doth his Father p. 203 Signs of the Fear of God p. 45 Signs of such as shall goe to Hell p. 74 Silence in Religion a loud sin p. 85 Sinful compliance sordid p. 5 Sin worse than Affliction p. 46 Sin begins in the Thoughts p. 109 Sinners have not right thoughts of God p. 107 Sinners shall not be spared p. 203 Sins of the Wicked written down in Gods Book of Remembrance p. 146 Swasives to holy Conference p. 94 T THinking of God in a right manner p. 125 Thoughts of God may be Peccant p. 124 Thoughts and good Speeches of the Godly are Written down p. 140 Time of Discerning between the Righteous and the Wicked p. 210 V VAin Thoughts the froth of the Brain p. 108 Vain thoughts Pernitious p. 109 Vnion of the Saints at last p. 189 W WAnt of the Fear of God the cause of all sin p. 22 Wicked men Vile in Gods account p. 178 Wisdom to engage the Lord of Hosts on our side p. 158 Works of Mercy p. 57 ERRATA PAge 85. line 26. for no read not Pag. 155. marg 3 Vse dele 3. Pag. 188. l. 15 for discords r. discord PRACTICAL NOTES UPON MALACH III. Ver. 16 17 c. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name And they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Iewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him c. CHAP. 1. Shewing that Christians should hold fast their Integrity in times of defection THE Scripture of Truth is the Ground of Faith This Portion of Scripture which now presents it self to our view hath its Sacred Elegancies and is all glorious within It was composed by Malachy whose name imports Messenger he came upon an
and the Spirit to help them to pray and Jesus Christ as their Advocate to present their Prayers 4. Such as are Fearers of God God will bestow an Inheritance upon them as a Father doth upon his Son this Inheritance is no less than a Kingdom Luke 12.32 In it are Gates of Pearl Rivers of Pleasure and which is to be noted as a difference between Gods setling an Inheritance on his Children and a Fathers setling an Inheritance a Son cannot enjoy the Inheritance till his Father be dead but every adopted child of God may at once enjoy both the Inheritance and the Father because God is both Father and Inheritance 5. Such as are Fearers of God God will pass by many infirmities That is meant by this expression in the Text I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son What a wonder is this that God did not spare the Angels 2 Pet. 2.4 Nay he did not spare his natural Son Rom. 8.32 Yet he will spare his Adopted Sons I will spare them I will not use extremity as I might but pass by many aberrations Not that the Sins of Gods Children are hid from him but such is his paternal Clemency that he is pleased to bear with many frailties in his Children He spareth them as a Father spareth his Son How often do Gods people grieve his Spirit by the neglect of their Spiritual Watch the loss of their first-love but God spares them Israel provoked God with their murmurings but he used Fatherly Indulgence towards them Psalm 78.38 But he being full of Compassion forgave their Iniquity yea many a time turned he his anger away from them From this word I will spare them as a man spares his Son take Notice that the best need sparing Psalm 130.3 If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquities Lord who shall stand The Papists speak of Merits but how can we merit when our best services are so defective that we need sparing how can these two stand together our meriting and God's sparing what will become of us without sparing Mercy we had need pray as Nehemiah cap. 13.22 Remember me O my God concerning this and spare me according to the greatness of thy Mercy Let us fly to this Asylum Lord spare us as a Father spares his Son See Gods different dealing with the Godly and the Wicked the Lord will not spare the Wicked Jer. 13.14 I will not Pity nor spare nor have Mercy but destroy them 'T is sad when the Prisoner begs of the Judge to spare him but the Judge will shew him no favour Gods cup of wrath is unmixed Rev. 14.10 Yet it is said to be mixed Psal. 78.5 Gods cup of wrath he gives the Wicked is mixed with all sorts of Plagues but it is a Cup unmixed without the least drop of Mercy in it God for a while Reprieves men but forbearance is no forgiveness Though God spare his Children yet obdurate sinners shall feel the weight of his wrath If the Lord spares his people as a Father doth his Son then they should serve him as a Son doth his Father serve him willingly 1 Chron. 28.9 Know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a willing mind God doth not love to be put to strain Therefore Cains Sacrifice was rejected because he brought it grudgingly and against his Mind it was rather the paying of a tax than a free-will Offering That is the best obedience which is voluntary as that is the best Hony which drops from the Comb. God sometimes accepts of willingness without the Work but never of the work without willingness 2. Serve God Vniversally True obedience is Vniform it observes one command as well as another it sets upon duties difficult and dangerous As the Needle points that way which the Loadstone draws so a Gracious Heart inclines to those things which the word suggests Luke 1.6 'T is the note of an Hypocrite to be partial in Obedience some sin he will indulge some duty he will dispense with his Obedience is lame on one foot 3. Serve God Swiftly Beware of a dull temper of Soul the loveliness of Obedience is in the liveliness we read of two Women Zach. 5.9 The Wind was in their Wings Wings are Swift but Wind in the Wings denotes great Swiftness such Swiftness should be in our Obedience to God If God spares us as a Father doth his Son we should serve him as a Son doth his Father If God Spares us as a Father doth his Son let us imitate God 'T is natural for Children to imitate their Parents look what the Father doth the Child is apt to learn the same Let us imitate God in this one thing as God spares us and passeth by many failures so let us be sparing in our Censures of others let us look upon the Weaknesses and Indiscretions of our Brethren with a more tender compassionate eye Indeed in case of Scandal here we ought not to bear with others but sharply reprove them But if through Inadvertency or Passion they commit Indecencies let us Pity and Pray for them How much doth God bear with in us He Spares us and shall not we be Sparing to others perhaps they may be wronged and false things may be laid to their Charge Athanasius was falsely Accused by the Arrians of Adultery Basil of Heresie 'T is usual for the World to misrepresent the People of God therefore let us be sparing in our Censures God spares us and shall not we be sparing towards others Here is Comfort to the Children of God in case of Failings The Lord will not be severe to mark what they have done amiss but will Spare them He passeth by many Infirmities Zeph. 3.17 He will rest in his Love in the Original it is He will be silent in his Love As if the Prophet had said Though the Church had her Failings yet Gods Love was such that it would not suffer him to mention them He will be silent in his Love God winks at many oversights Ezek. 20.17 Mine eye Spared them from destroying them I speak not of presumptuous sins but Failings as vain Thoughts deadness in Duty suddain Surprizals by Temptation these being mourned for God for Christs fake will Spare us as a Father doth his Son This is one of the richest Comforts in the Book of God Who is he that lives and sins not how defective are we in our best Duties how full are our Lives either of Blanks or Blots Were it not for Sparing Mercy we should all goe to Hell but this Text is a standing Cordial if our Hearts are sincere God will Spare us as a Father doth his Son Hosea 11.9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine Anger I know not a greater Rock of Support for a fainting Christian than this God will abate of the Severity of the Law though we come short in our Duty he will not fail of his Mercy but
His People OR A Consolatory in Affliction PSALM CXIX 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy Servant O Lord. THe Psalms are the Marrow of the Bible they are both for Delight and Vse like rich Cordials which do not only gratifie the Palate but strengthen the Spirits This Psalm is full of Divine and Spiritual matter it was Composed if not Sung by the Sweet Singer of Israel The Words fall into two Parts 1. Gods Kindness to David He dealt well with him 2. David's grateful acknowledgment of this Favour Thou hast dealt well with thy Servant O Lord. From Gods Kindness to David observe That God dealeth well with his People Gen. 33.12 The Lord hath dealt graciously with me Gods People often walk unanswerable to his Love but though they deal ill with God God deals well with them Gods dealing well with his People ariseth from the Intrinsecal goodness of his Nature God is love 1 John 4.16 From this flow all Acts of Royal Bounty Wherein doth Gods dealing well with his People appear In enriching them with variety of Mercies his Footsteps drop Fatness Psalm 65.11 He Feeds Adopts Crowns them and is not this dealing well with them But how doth God deal well with the Saints when he laies his hand so heavy upon them in Affliction His pen is full of Gall and he writes bitter things against them Psalm 73.14 I am chastened every morning how doth God deal well with his People when it fares ill with them It must be held as an undoubted maxim that when the Lord severely chastizeth the Saints he deals well with them but we are ready to Question this Truth and say as the Virgin Mary to the Angel how can this be therefore I shall demonstrate it that when it goes ill with the Righteous yet God deals well with them 1. When the Lord afflicts the Saints yet he deals well with them because he is their God David was in the deep of Sorrow Psal 130.1 Yet he could say the Lord was his Portion Psalm 16.5 God is an exceeding great reward Gen. 15.1 He is a whole Paradise of delight Bonum in quo omnia bona He who hath God for his God all his Estate lies in Jewels If then God passeth over himself to his People by a Deed of gift to be their God here is enough to countervail all their troubles what can God give more than himself 2. When it goes ill with the Godly yet God deals well with them because while he is inflicting evil upon them he is doing them good That which the Text renders thou hast dealt well with thy Servant in the Hebrew it is thou hast done good to thy Servant Psalm 129.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted David doth not say it is Good for me that I have been in prosperity but that I have been afflicted God doth his People good by Affliction Two wayes 1. The Godly grow wiser Affliction is schola lucis it discovers that pride earthliness unmortified passion which they could not have believed was in their Hearts Iob 36.8 If they be held in cords of Affliction then he shews them their Transgression Affliction cures the Eye-sight 2. Affliction promotes Holiness The more the Diamond is cut the more it sparkles Heb. 12.10 That we may be partakers of his Holiness When prosperity makes Grace rust God scowres us with Affliction The Godly are beholding to their Sufferings God by the wholesome discipline of the Cross makes them more humble more conformed to Christs Image the sharp Frosts of Affliction bring on the spring Flowers of Grace now if God while he is chastising is doing us good then sure he deals well with us 3. When God puts his Children to the School of the Cross yet he deals well with them because he doth not leave them without a Promise 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able God knows our frame that we are imbecil and weak our flesh is not as brass Job 6 12. And the Lord will not try us above our strength he will not lay a Giants burden upon a Childs back God will not stretch the strings of his Viol too hard lest they break if God strike with one hand he will support with the other Cant. 8.3 Either he will make our Yoak Lighter or our Faith stronger This Promise is Hony at the end of the Rod. 4. God deals well with his People when he afflicts because Afflictions are Preventive 1. They prevent sin 2 Cor. 12.7 Lest I should be exalted above measure there was given me a Thorn in the Flesh. Prosperity like Opium is ready to make men fall asleep in Sin God awakens them by the Voice of the Rod and so prevents a Spiritual Lethargy 2. They prevent Hell 1 Cor. 11.32 We are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the World Doth not a Judge deal well with a Prisoner when he laies some light penalty on him and saves his Life Is it not goodness in God when he laies upon us light Affliction and saves us from Wrath to come 2 Cor. 4.17 What is a drop of Sorrow the Godly tast of to that bottomless Sea of Wrath the Wicked must drink 5. When God corrects he deals well with his People because all he doth is in Love Afflictions are as Gregory Nazianzen faith sharp Arrows but they are shot from the hand of a loving Father As Gods not afflicting the Wicked is in anger Gods hand is Heaviest when it is lightest Hosea 4.14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit Whoredom A Father gives over correcting a Child whom he intends to disinherit so Gods chastizing the Godly is in Love Rev. 3.19 As many as I Love I rebuke when God hath the Look of an Enemy he hath the Heart of a Father As when Abraham lift up his hand to Sacrifice Isaac he loved him so when God Sacrificeth the Comforts of his Children he loves them Was not God severe against Christ yet it was proclaimed by a Voice from Heaven This is my beloved Son Mat. 3.17 Well then if God only send love-tokens to us he deals well with us 6. God deals well with his People when he afflicts them because he moderates his stroke Ier. 30.11 I will correct thee in Measure 1. God doth not smite his Children so much as he might Psal. 78.38 He did not stir up all his Wrath God doth not make the Cup so bitter as he could He useth Lenitives rather than Corrosives he layes a lighter burden on he might lay on an heavier Doth God take away a Child he might take away his Spirit Doth he chastize the Body he might torment the Conscience 2. God doth not correct his Children so much as they have deserved Ezra 9.13 Thou hast punished us less than our Iniquities deserve Doth God make us drink in a Cup of
Wormwood we have deserved to drink in a Cup of Wrath doth God cut us short we have deserved he should cut us off Ezek. 47.3 The Waters were to the Ankles Do the Waters of Affliction come up to our Ankles we have deserved to be drowned in these Waters 7. When God afflicts his Children he deals well with them because he keeps them from Sinning in Affliction Iohn 17.15 I pray that thou keep them from the evil 1. The Godly are kept from impatience When the Wicked are under Gods black Rod they either faint or fret Rev. 16.9 Men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God but the Godly are silent under the Rod Levit. 10.3 And Aaron held his Peace 't was a sore Tryal both his Sons were consumed with fire but Aaron held his Peace Gods People open their Ear to hear the Voice of the Rod but shut their Mouth they have not one word to say against God 2. The Godly dare not use any indirect means to extricate themselves out of Trouble Wicked men like Malefactors care not how they get loose they will sin themselves out of straits the People of God had rather lye in the Furnace to have their dross purged than come out too soon they will not purchase the liberty of their Persons by insnaring their Consciences Doth not God deal well with his Children in keeping them from sinning in Affliction Affliction cannot do that mischief as sin doth the one is like a rent in the Garment the other is like a rent in the Flesh. Affliction may deprive us of our Estates but Sin deprives us of our God 8. God deals well with his Children in Affliction because though he Correct them he doth not forsake them Indeed Sion said the Lord hath forsaken me Isa. 49.14 But that was under a Temptation Lam. 3.31 The Lord will not cast off for Ever God may alter his Providence not his purpose he may change his dispensation not his disposition Hos. 11.8 How shall I give thee up O Ephraim It alludes to a Father who is about to disinherit his Son but when he is going to set his hand to the deed his bowels begin to Work I am his Father and though he be a Rebellious Son yet he is a Son how shall I disinherit him Such are the Workings of Gods bowels to his Children though he may give them a severe rebuke yet he will not cut off the entail of Mercy 9. God deals well with his Children in Affliction because though their condition be sad yet it is not so bad as others the Lord puts a difference between the Chastisements of the Godly and the Punishments of the Wicked the Godly man hath Pain in his sickness but the Wicked man hath Wrath in his sickness Eccles. 5.17 The Lord shoots a single Arrow at the Godly but a whole shower of Arrows at the Wicked he punisheth them in their Body Estate Conscience A good man hath God to Pity him in his Sorrows Isa. 63.9 But the Wicked have God to laugh at them in their Miseries Prov. 1.26 The Godly have Christ to pray for them in their Afflictions but the Impenitent when in Torment are shut out of Christs prayer Ioh. 17.9 I pray not for the World Gods People are apt to say Never did any suffer as they yes it is worse with the Wicked their Sins and Sufferings meet together 10. God in Affliction deals well with his Children because if he take away one Comfort he leaves more behind God threatned Ierusalem to strip her of all her Jewels and leave her bare Ezek. 16.39 But you who belong to God may Sing of Mercy and Iudgment Psal. 101.1 If God hath fleeced your Estate he hath raised you up Friends If he hath taken away one of your Jewels he hath left you more if he hath pluck'd one dear Relation from you he hath left other sweet Clusters behind and can double your Comfort in them is not all this kindness But this is our Sin we grieve more for one Loss than we are thankful for an Hundred Mercies Jacob was more troubled for the loss of Joseph than he was Comforted with the Lives of all his other Children Gen. 37.35 11. When God Afflicts he deals well with his People because he takes away nothing from them but he gives them that which is better What dammage can it be to a man to lose his Farthings and have Gold given him If God take away Health he gives Holiness If he take away a Child he gives a Christ is not this better God takes away a Flower and gives a Jewel 12. When God Afflicts his Children he deals well with them because he affords them his Divine presence Psalm 91.15 I will be with him in trouble God never Promised us a Charter of Exemption from trouble but he hath Promised to be with us in trouble Better be in a Prison and have Gods presence than on a Throne and want it Gods presence gives courage Act. 23.11 When Polycarp was near the Theatre and going to Suffer a Voice came from Heaven Be of good chear O Polycarp Was not Christ with the Three Children did not he go with them into the fire Dan. 3.25 I see four men in the fire and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God He who is the Second Person in the Trinity made the Fourth Person in the Furnace 13. God in Afflicting deals well with his Children because he gives them that which makes amends for their Afflictions he drops in the Oyl of Gladness he makes them gather Grapes of Thorns John 16.22 Your Sorrow shall be turned into Joy We see a Godly mans Sufferings but we know not what Joy he feels as we hear the roaring of the Sea but we see not the Gold at the bottom Philip Lantgrave of Hesse said that in his trouble he felt the divine Consolations of the Martyrs Here was Hony out of the Lion The Saints have been sometimes so sweetly enlarged that they had rather endure their Afflictions than want their Comforts 2 Cor. 1.5 As the Sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ Saint Paul had his Prison-Songs Act. 16 25. This Bird of Paradise could sing in Winter God turns the Waters of Marah into Wine He keeps his Cordials for fainting When the Saints taste most of the Wrath of Men they shall feel most of the Love of God thus the Lord candies his Wormwood with Sugar 14. When God Corrects his Children he deals well with them because these Paroxysms or hot trials do not last long Post nubila Phaebus 1 Kin. 11.39 I will Afflict the Seed of David but not for ever God will love for ever but not afflict for ever he will ere long give his people a Writ of ease A Sinners best and a Saints worst are but short Affliction is called a Cup Ezek. 23.32 The Wicked drink a Sea of Wrath the Godly sip only of