For many there are undoubtedly who would otherwise
drive forth and die in their deadly sin, who yet in such
tribulation, feeling their own frailty so effectually and the false
flattering world failing them, turn full goodly to God and call for
mercy. And so by grace they make virtue of necessity, and make a
medicine of their malady, taking their trouble meekly, and make a
right godly end.
Consider well the story of Acham, who committed sacrilege at the
great city of Jericho. Thereupon God took a great vengeance upon
the children of Israel, and afterward told them the cause and bade
them go seek the fault and try it out by lots. When the lot fell
upon the very man who did it--being tried by the lot falling first
upon his tribe and then upon his family and then upon his house and
finally upon his person--he could well see that he was deprehended
and taken against his will. But yet at the good exhortation of
Josue saying unto him, "Mine own son, give glory to the God of
Israel, and confess and show me what thou hast done, and hide it
not," he confessed humbly the theft and meekly took his death for
it. And he had, I doubt not, both strength and comfort in his pain,
and died a very good man. Yet, if he had never come in tribulation,
he would have been in peril never haply to have had just remorse in
all his whole life, but might have died wretchedly and gone to the
devil eternally.
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