then the afflictions are in love. If they are so sanctified as that they
I shall now address myself to answer those objections, and to remove
those impediments which hinder poor souls from being silent and
mute under the afflicting hand of God, &c.
Objection 1
Obj. 1. Sir! did I but know that I were afflicted in love, I would hold
my peace under my affliction, I would sit mute before the Lord; but
oh! how shall I come to understand that these strokes are the strokes
of love, that these wounds are the wounds of a friend? I answer:
1. First, If thy heart be drawn more out to the Lord by thy afflictions,
then the afflictions are in love. If they are so sanctified as that they
draw out thy soul to love the Lord more, and to fear the Lord more,
and to please the Lord more, and to cleave to the Lord more, and to
wait on the Lord more, and to walk with the Lord more, then they are
in love. Oh, then they are the wounds of a friend indeed! It is
reported of the lioness, that she leaves her young whelps till they
have almost killed themselves with roaring and yelling, and then at
the last gasp, when they have almost spent themselves, she relieves
them, and by this means they become more courageous; and so if the
afflictions that are upon us do increase our courage, strengthen our
patience, raise our faith, inflame our love, and enliven our hopes,
certainly they are in love, and all our wounds are the wounds of a
friend. But,