A Child of Light Walking in Darkness, Part 1 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Six Ends more: For the encreaſing of ſeverall graces, and deſtroying corruptions.
SIxtly, as it makes for the triall and diſcovery of graces, ſo it is a meanes ſanctified to encreaſe them, and to eate out corruptions.
Firſt,1. To deſtroy corruption. it is a meanes to deſtroy the fleſh. The inceſtuous Corinthian was to bee delivered to Satan, that is, to be terrified; to deſtroy the fleſh. As corraſives eate out dead fleſh, ſo theſe terrours the dead corruptions: and the reviving of the guilt of old ſinnes, doth kill the ſeeds of thoſe that remaine in the heart. For if an outward affliction, which croſſeth but the ſatisfaction of a luſt, is a meanes ſactified by God, to kill a luſt; then much more the inward terrour, which the conſcience feeles, and which ariſeth immediatly from the guilt of a ſinne, muſt needs bee a meanes much more.
Secondly,2. To humble. it is a meanes to humble. So Deut. 8. 16. the end of the biting of the Iſraelites by Scorpions, (which were the types of theſe ſtings and terrours) were, as to prove, ſo to humble them, and for this end was that buffeting by Satan (we have ſo often mentioned 2 Cor. 12. 7.) to keep downe being exalted above meaſure: So alſo,1 Pet. 5. 6. Humble your ſelves under the mighty hand of God: and if in any other affliction, his mighty hand layes hardeſt on ſurely in theſe.
Thirdly,3. To encreaſe aſſurance in the event. it is a meanes to bring you in more aſſurance, and eſtabliſhment. 1 Pet. 5. 10. The God of all grace after you have ſuffered a while, ſtabliſh and ſtrengthen you. He knew they could not be ſetled, till they had ſuffered in this, or ſome other kinde. The tree rootes it ſelfe the more it is ſhaken. Comforts abound the more that ſufferings doe abound. That light is cleareſt and ſtrongeſt, that ariſeth out of darkneſſe, becauſe God creates it. Thoſe things which men doubt of moſt, God gives the greateſt evidence of in the end.
Fourthly,4. The fear… and obedience of God. it traines you up to feare God more, and to obey him. Therefore in the Text, theſe are added as the concomitant diſpoſitions of the ſoule in ſuch a caſe. For of all other, theſe of fearing God, and obeying him, doe moſt eminently, and ſenſibly appeare in that eſtate. Heb. 5. 8. Chriſt himſelfe learnt obedience by what hee ſuffered. The yoke tames the wanton wildneſſe in beaſts, and makes them ſerviceable, breakes them: and ſo doe theſe the ſtubbornneſſe of a mans ſpirit.
Fifthly,5. To pray more and more earneſtly. to ſet beleevers hearts awork to pray more, and more earneſtly: So the Apoſtles buffetings, 2 Cor. 12. made him pray thrice; that is, often: So Chriſt, Luke 22. 44. being in an agony, he prayed more earneſtly; and being in feares, he did lift up ſtrong cryes, Heb. 5. 7. So Heman by reaſon of his terrours, was a man much in prayers. Pſal. 88. 1. I have cryed day and night before thee. Chriſtians that enjoy not communion with God, yet if they thinke they have not loſt him, they are ſecure, and lazie in prayers▪ but if they apprehend once, that their … gone; or that they are in danger to loſe him, then they will ſeeke him all the world over but they will finde him; Cant. 5. 6, 7, 8. and make … and cry after him, as the Church did there.
Sixthly,6. To prize the light of Gods countenance. it cauſeth them to prize the light of Gods countenance the more, when they againe obtaine it: and to ſet a higher price upon it, and to endavour by cloſe walking with God, as children of light, to keepe it. To prize it more then corne, and oyle. Cant. 3. at the 2. verſe She loſeth him; but at the 4. verſe, Shee findes him againe, and then Shee holds him, and would not let him goe.