...though in their owne nature they [afflictions] be evill, yet through the wisdome and gracious providence of our God, they turne to the good of his children; and though to the wicked they are plagues and punishments, yet to the godly they are but trials and fatherlie chastisements...For as they are trials, they serve to shew unto all the world, and especially to our selves, our faith, hope, patience, obedience, constancie...And as they are chastisements they serve for sharpe eye-salves to cleere our dimme sight, so as we may see our sinnes, and truelie repent of them...They are that wormewood, wherby the Lord weaneth us from the love of the world, whose pleasing delights we would ever suck without wearines if our mouthes were not distasted with some afflictions.
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