Selected quad for the lemma: love_n
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A64968
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A present for such as have been sick and are recovered, or, A discourse concerning the good which comes out of the evil of affliction being several sermons preached after his being raised from a bed of languishing / by Nathanael Vincent.
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Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.
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1693
(1693)
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Wing V417; ESTC R27040
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62,262
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136
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because the Word of God has been observed with no more care Conscience also is still urging To the Law and to the Testimony This is the way to be freed from Trouble and to attain to Peace Psal 119. 165. Great Peace have they that Love thy Law Gal. 6. 16. And as many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them and Mercy and upon the Israel of God 2. The Rod of Affliction takes off from worldly Business and Diversions and hereupon they that are afflicted are at better leasure to consider their ways Eccles 7. 14. In the day of Adversity consider God is not to be complained of for punishing Sin but men who are punished should search and try their ways and turn to Him Lam. 3. 39 40. Inconsiderateness is spoken of as the occasion of a World of Wickedness and 't is exclaimed against as very offensive and inexcusable Isa 1. 2 3. Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth for the Lord hath spoken I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me The Ox knows his owner and the Ass his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know my People doth not consider Now the more any consider what they do the greater heed they will take to the Word of God for this Word Counsels safely it directs and leads in the way of Peace and Truth and Life Prov. 6. 23. For the Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light and Reproofs of Instruction are the way of Life 3. The Rod of Affliction brings God to remembrance whose the Word is and God being remembred his Word is the more awfully regarded Most men forget the Lord all their days Jer. 2. 32. Can a Maid forget her Ornaments or a Bride her attire yet my People have forgotten me days without number And forgetting the Lord they forget themselves their Duty and their Interest Affliction is a means to bring God to mind and his hand being lifted up and there being a Rod in his hand there is a more heedful looking into his Word to know his Pleasure and what is the ground of his present displeasure and controversie Job was desirous to know his Transgression and Sin and wherefore it was that God hid his Face and counted him for his Enemy Job 13. 23 24. 4. The Rod of Affliction brings Iniquity to remembrance which is contrary to the Word of God The very first stroke of Correction how of a sudden has it opened mens Eyes and marshall'd their Sins more terrible than an Army with Banners before them Psal 50. 21. I will reprove thee and set them in Order before thine Eyes Now the remembrance of Sin is a great ingredient in true Contrition and Repentance which the Word of God so often calls for Ezek. 36. 31. Then shall ye remember your evil ways and doings that have not been good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your Iniquities and Abominations To remember Sin in Hell will be to remember Sin too late and the Eternal Remembrance of it and the Folly and Perverseness in giving way to it will be a great part of the Sinners Eternal Torment But to remember Sin in Affliction is very profitable how evident now is the deceitfulness of it All its pretences of Impunity Gain and Pleasure are found altogether vain This is One great Lesson of the Rod. Sin cheats all its Servants and quickly ends in Sorrow 5. The Rod of Affliction brings Duty to remembrance which the Word of God requires Omission and neglect of Duty and negligence in Duty are then reflected on with grief for if Duty had been more seriously and frequently performed possibly the stroke might not have been felt and suppose it had improving of Ordinances might have furnished the Heart with more Faith and Patience to have born it And now says the Rod be better acquainted with the Word know thy Duty and from what Principle thou art to act after what manner and to what end Act from Spiritual Life let Faith work by Love and the more there is of the Heart and will in Obedience 't is the better and let it be the constant design that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4. 11. Affliction vehemently urges unto practical Godliness and unto walking in newness of Life Doers of the Word are blessed in their deed whereas those Professours are Self-deceivers who satisfie themselves with a Faith which Works not but is dead Jam. 1. 22. But be ye doers of the Word and not hears only deceiving your own selves V. 25. Whoso looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the Work this man shall be blessed in his deed 6. The Rod of Affliction brings Death to remembrance and Death brings the Night when the Work which the Word of God calls for can be done no more Joh. 9. 4. I must work the Works of him that sent me while 't is day the night cometh when no man can work When a man seriously meditates on Death how wise will it make him he will number his days aright and do the Work for which time and days are given him Psal 90. 12. Teach us so to number our days that we may apply our Hearts to Wisdom And if Death be brought to remembrance by Affliction Judgment which follows at the heels of Death will also be thought of And this Judgment will be according to the Word of God for this Book among others will be opened at the great day and Sentence pass'd according to it Joh. 12. 48. The Word which I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last day The Consideration of a future Judgment how will it quicken to the study search and Practise of the Word If the Word now bind thee because of thy Vnbelief and Impenitency in Sin thou art bound in Heaven If the Word now condemns thee continuing as thou art the Judge also will most certainly condemn thee But if the Word at present does acquit thee the Judge also will absolve thee If the Word pronounces thee blessed because Poor in Spirit Meek a Mourner for Sin one that hungers and thirsts after Righteousness because pure in Heart a Peace-maker and one that is willing to suffer Persecution for Righteousness sake rather than cease the Practice of Righteousness Mat. 5. 3 10. Being thus pronounced Blessed by the Word Our Lord will never contradict himself but at last will say to thee Come thou Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for thee from the Foundation of the World Mat. 25. 34. I come in the last place to the Application USE I. Of Information From the Doctrine we may learn several useful Lessons 1. We may be instructed concerning the end of Affliction which is our truer Knowledg and Holiness The Rod sends us to the Word from whence Wisdom comes Prov. 2. 6. For the Lord giveth Wisdom out of
behind will you be lavish of that time still will you lose any more Oh see the Wisdom of redeeming Time Eph. 5. 15 16. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as Fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil And fear the loss of time 1 Pet. 1. 17. If ye call on the Father who without respect of Persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear Be sure to lose no more for to lose all your time is most certainly to lose your selves and that for ever In the other World there is no obtaining Mercy by those who all the while they were in this World slighted Mercy There is no working out your own Salvation after death if all your Life-time Salvation be neglected 7. After Affliction be full of gratitude Holy Ingenuity and Love The Calves of your Lips most acceptable Sacrifices should be offered frequently nay continually with an enlarged Heart with a willing mind David was in danger of losing his Life among the Philistines God preserves it How Fruitful are his Lips in Praises Psal 34. 1 2 3 4. I will bless the Lord at all times his Praise shall continually be in my Mouth my Soul shall make her boast in the Lord the humble shall hear thereof and be glad Oh magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears Hezekiah had been deliver'd from deadly Sickness he was raised by special Favour and Power when according to Nature Death was unavoidable Coming so unexpectedly and so quickly from a seeming Death-Bed to the Temple how does he make that Temple Ring with his Thanskgivings Isa 38. 17 19. Behold for Peace I had great bitterness but thou hast in love to my Soul deliver'd it from the Pit of Corruption thou hast cast all my Sins behind thy back The living the living he shall Praise thee as I do this day the Father to the Children shall make known thy Truth Not onely must your Mouths be fill'd with Praises but your Hearts with Love and Ingenuity should make you study what to render unto God Observe the working of the Psalmists grateful Breast after God had deliver'd his Soul from Death his Eyes from Tears and his Feet from falling Psal 116. 1. I love the Lord because he hath heard my Voice and my Supplication V. 3. The Sorrows of Death compassed me the Pains of Hell got hold upon me V. 5 6. Gracious is the Lord and Righteous yea our God is merciful I was brought low and he helped me V. 7. Return to thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee V. 12. What shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits towards me He thought nothing too good nothing too much for that God who had been so good to him who had done so much for him Still you should be contriving to make more suitable returns for what you have received and with your Praises and Service your Hearts and Love must be the Principal part of the returns you make Love lies in Desire and Delight no Mercies so desirable as the Father of Mercies God Himself is more to be delighted in than any of the Benefits he bestows Take heed of loving Deliverance more than your Deliverer Mercies themselves are Idolized and it provokes the Lord to Jealousie if they are prized and delighted in more than the Lord God of your Mercies Therefore the Psalmist though he valued Deliverance from Enemies and Trouble yet principally rejoices in God himself Psal 9. 2. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee I will Praise thy Name O thou most High Rejoice in God more than in the return of Health more than in the Prolongation of Life or any other Comfort and Enjoyment Mercies attain their end when God is more endeared to you by them God will be all in all in Heaven and the more he is your all at present the more of Heaven you enjoy on Earth 8. After Affliction be sensible you are not safe in your own Hands therefore commit the keeping of your Souls to God 1 Pet. 4. 19. Let them commit the keeping of their Souls to Him in well-doing as unto a Faithful Creator If you are indeed wise and know your selves you will distrust your selves Self-Confidence is an undeniable Argument of Self-Ignorance Trust your selves in no hands but those out of which none shall ever be able to pluck you and those are hands of Christ and the Father Joh. 10. 27 28 29. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them Life Eternal and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand My Father which gave them me is greater than All and none is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand Not onely in the Hour and Agony of Death but all your lives long every Day and Hour you have need still to be commending your Spirits unto God for they are safe with none besides Psal 31. 5. Into thy hands do I commit my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth USE IV. Of Counsel more peculiarly to Saints who are afflicted Shew your selves to be Saints indeed and let your Graces now be much in Exercise Spices beaten in the Mortar are the more Fragrant Afflicted Saints should manifest a rare and excellent Spirit but no Dissatisfaction or Discontent considering the Truth of this Doctrine that they are afflicted for their good You that are Saints in your Troubles you need Counsel and 't is not to be doubted but you will heed it I shall give it in these particulars 1. Be Patient whatever your Affliction is That God whom you serve is patient towards Man has been patient towards you how many affronts and Provocations has he born put up and pardoned The Lord Jesus Christ was a Pattern of Patience and Meekness When he was reviled of Men he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not 1 Pet. 2. 23. Nay many had Life by his Blood who imbrued their hands in that Blood and shed it And when it Vivificatâ—â— Christi sanguine etiam qui fudit sanguinem Christi Talis est Christi ac tanta patientia quae nisi talis existeret Paulum quoque Apostolum Ecclesia non haberet Cypr. de bono Patientiae p. mihi 316. pleased his Father to bruise him and to put him to grief yet as a Lamb brought to the slaughter and as a Sheep before her Shearers is dumb so he opened not his Mouth Isa 53. 7. The Members of the Body should imitate Christ the Head in Patience It may be an Inducement to a quiet bearing of Affliction that far worse has been demerited by the very best than is endured Ezr. 9. 13. Thou our God hast punished us less than our Iniquities deserve But the Benefit of Affliction proves that Patience