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and are causelessly disquieted. I would have such to consider, first, whether they have not in them already evident proofs and signs of God's effectual love towards them in Christ? These will acknowledge, that it is most true, that if they were sure God did love them, they should not fear; but this is all their doubt, that God does not love them.

(1.) Doubts of God's love because of afflictions, removed.

Some give this reason of their doubt; God has and still does severely afflict them; yea, ever since they have professed the name of Christ, they are in something or other chastened daily; insomuch, that they seem to be in the condition of those whom God threatened to curse in every thing, they put their hands unto, Deut. xxviii. 20. Therefore, say they, God does not love us.

Such weak and inconsiderate reasonings are incident to those whom God truly loves. Did not the holy men of God reason, and conclude thus? But when God's children do thus, it is in their haste; before they are well advised what they think or say, Psa. xxxi. 22, cxvi. 11. And whence is it? Is it not from their ignorance and weakness, being carried away by sense? So foolish was I, and ignorant, saith the prophet, &c. Psa. lxxiii. 13, 14, 22. But when they come to themselves, and learn by God's word and Spirit, that it is not outward prosperity that will make wicked men happy, neither is it outward affliction that can make a good man miserable; then they will neither applaud nor envy the prosperity of the wicked, nor yet misconstrue, nor repine at their own afflictions. For they learn, that no man can know God's love or hatred by any outward thing, that does befall the sons of men in this life, Eccles. ix. 1, &c.

They learn, that God does often smile on his enemies, and that he does often frown upon, is angry with, and does correct those whom he dearly loves, even as a father does his children, Prov. iii. 12; Rev. iii. 19.

They learn by the word likewise, that God has