in the affliction, and how to be kept from sinning under the affliction,
2. Secondly, If you are more careful and studious how to glorify God
in the affliction, and how to be kept from sinning under the affliction,
than how to get out of the affliction, then certainly your affliction is
in love, Dan. 3 and 5:16, 17, Heb. 11. Where God smites in love, there
the soul makes it his study how to glorify God, and how to lift up
God, and how to be a name and an honour to God. The daily
language of such a soul under the rod is this: Lord! stand by me that
I sin not, uphold me that I sin not, strengthen me that I sin not, John
7:7–10. He that will not sin to repair and make up his losses, though
he knew assuredly that the committing of such a sin would make up
all again, he may conclude that his affliction is in love.
I have read of a nobleman whose son and heir was supposed to be
bewitched, and being advised to go to some wizard or cunning man,
as they are called, to have some help for his son, that he might be un-
witched again, he answered, Oh, by no means, I had rather the witch
should have my son than the devil. His son should suffer rather than
he would sin him out of his sufferings. He that will not break the
hedge of a fair command to avoid the foul way of some heavy
affliction, may well conclude that his affliction is in love. Christians!
what say you, when you are in the mount; do you thus bespeak the
Lord? Lord! take care of thy glory, and let me rather sink in my
affliction than sin under my affliction. If this be the bent and frame
of thy heart, it is certain the affliction that is upon thee is in love. The
primitive times afforded many such brave spirits, though this age
affords but few.