Verse 12

VER. 12.

Though they bring up children, yet will I bereave them.

The curse of God is here threatened to pursue them, and over-take them, though they escaped the curse that others are under.

Many think that when they have escaped some judgment that has come upon some others, then they are safe enough and all is well. But your preservation from some judgment that has struck others, may be your reservation to greater judgments that God intends for you afterwards.

2. It is a judgment to be deprived of children in the womb, in the birth, but when you have endured much pain in bearing and bringing forth your children, much labor and trouble in bringing up your children, when many a thoughtful care in the education of them, much sorrow and grief they have cost you, and now when they come to be hopeful, almost to mens and womens estate, and you think to have comfort in them, now for God to take them away, this is very sad to parents, it goes exceeding much to their hearts to be bereaved then. Yet such things as these have befallen many heretofore; and parents though the condition must be acknowledged very sad, yet they must submit to God's hand in this. Perhaps some of you have in the breeding of your children endured much, and through many difficulties they have been brought till they have grown up to be almost at mens and womens estates, and perhaps they have been towardly and hopeful, you had hoped to have had them to have been the staff of your age, and yet God suddenly has made them fly away like a bird, perhaps be drowned, perhaps some other way, in a most uncomfortable manner the Lord has bereaved you of them. You will say, The condition is sad more than ordinary. Therefore God calls you to sanctify his Name more than ordinary, to exercise grace more than ordinary, and the exercise of grace in such an extraordinary stroke of God upon you may be as great a good and comfort, as great a blessing to you as the enjoyment of your child would have been. If a tender mother that through all her care, and pain, and labor, after breeding and bringing up a child, should have him taken away in some untimely death (as you call it) she would think her condition the saddest of any living. Be it known to you, perhaps some may be here, or know others of their friends that have had such a hand of God upon them, be but convinced of this one thing which I know you cannot deny, That the exercise of grace suitable to this work of God that is now upon you, or against you, conceive it as you will, I say, the exercise of your grace suitable to this work of God is a greater good to you than the life of your child could have been, it could never have done you that good as the exercise of grace may do in this condition when it is suitable to this stroke of God upon you. And this indeed is the only way to make up any losses of children, or loss of any goods, be it a child, be it a husband or the dearest friend, a wife, or your estate, yet the exercise of your grace is better than the enjoyment of them all. It follows;