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much imperfection; then God will not strike, but spares them, as a father spares his only son, that serves him, Mal. iii. 17.

Thirdly, When forbearance of punishment, and when fruits and tokens of kindness will reclaim his children from evil, and prove sufficient incentives unto good; God in this case also, like a wise and loving Father, had rather draw them by the cords of love, Hosea xi. 4, than drive them with the lashes of his displeasure. Thus you see God may love his children, and not be always afflicting them.

Well, do you prosper? Then take notice of God's goodness towards you with thanksgiving; study and endeavour therefore to be the more obedient. If you cannot, yet grieve because you cannot be more thankful and more obedient. Then, because prosperity has made you to be better, or at least to desire to be better, hence you may assure yourselves, that your prosperity is not given you in wrath, but in love. But take heed; quarrel not with God, because he forbears to afflict you; either make this use, that you be good, and amend without blows; or else be sure the more is behind.

(3.) Doubts of God's love, from inward horrors, and distresses of mind, removed.

As the fore-mentioned persons did question God's love, from considerations taken from their outward conditions; so there are very many, who, besides what they conclude from outward crosses, conclude also from their inward horrors and distresses of conscience, and from their intolerable perplexities of soul, that God does not love them; they think that their distress is other, or greater than the affliction of any of God's children; therefore they want peace, fearing that God does not love them.

Those to whom God does bear special love, may be so far perplexed with inward and strange terrors and discomforts, that they may think themselves to be forsaken of God. Thus David complains: Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Psa. lxxvii. 7, 8, 9. Yea, not only David,