Counsel to the Afflicted, Question 3 · Section 12

Counsel to the Afflicted · Question 3 · Section 12

p. 334SECT. 12.

12. Let this deliverance cauſe you to prepare for your day of viſitation, and to be ready to undergo whatever afflictions God ſhall ſee meet to lay upon you, Amos 4.11,12. I have overthrown ſome of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a fire-brand blucked out of the burning—prepare to meet thy God, O Iſrael. Both they that have ſuffered by this Fire, ſhould prepare for farther ſufferings (as hath been hinted in the ſecond Queſtion) and they that eſcaped this burning, ſhould prepare againſt the day of their viſitation. Preparing your ſelves for afflictions, is no way inconſiſtent with that truſting in God, to which I exhorted you in the former Section, but is an effect and fruit of Faith. It was Noah's faith, and not his diffidence that moved him to prepare an Ark, when he underſtood the Flood was coming, Heb. 11.7. By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not ſeen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an Ark—This being a needful point for a Chriſtian to be prepared for all ſorts of affliction, I ſhall enlarge a little upon it, and ſhew you, 1. Why it is needful that we ſhould be prepared for all kindes of affliction. 2. How this may be done. There is great reaſon that we ſhould prepare our ſelves and ſtand ready for all ſorts of affliction, becauſe,

1. As we are men, men that carry about with us a body of ſin and death, we are liable to troubles and calamities every day, as long as we live in this world, Job 5.7. Man is born unto trouble, as the ſparks flie upward. Job 14.1. Man that is born of a woman is of few dayes, and full of troubles. For ought we know every day may bring forth as much trouble as we are able to bear; if it be otherwiſe we muſt aſcribe it to p. 335the goodneſs of God, Matth. 6.34. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof: and this is our condition as long as we live, to be liable to trouble and ſorrow all our dayes, Gen. 3.17. Curſed is the ground for thy ſake, in ſorrow ſhalt thou eat of it all the dayes of thy life. There is not any one creature in the world, no not that from which we promiſe our ſelves moſt comfort, but at one time or another it may vex our very ſouls, Eccleſ. 2.17. All is vanity and vexation of ſpirit.

2. As we are godly men, ſo we are liable to many and great troubles, Pſal. 34.19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. Rev. 7.14. Theſe are they which came out of great tribulation. Acts 14.22. We muſt through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God. God would not have any godly man promiſe himſelf immunity from trouble, but would have him prepare for the ſharpeſt tryals, 2 Tim. 3.12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall ſuffer perſecution. If we look over the examples of Gods ſervants, we ſhall finde they have all gone through very great tryals. What croſſes did Jacob meet with from his brother Eſau, his Uncle Laban, his own Children, &c. there was ſcarce a day wherein he did not meet with ſome trouble, as he tells Pharaoh, Gen. 47.9. Few and evil have the dayes of the years of my life been. David who was a man after Gods own heart had a great portion of troubles, Pſal. 73.14. All the day long have I been plagued, and chaſtned every morning. Pſal. 31.9,10.—Mine eye is conſumed with grief, yea, my ſoul and my belly; for my life is ſpent with grief, and my years with ſighing. Heman was full of troubles, and that from his youth up, and thoſe ſo great, that he was ready to dye under them, Pſal. 88.3,15. My ſoul is full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave—I am afflicted, and ready to dye, from my youth p. 336up. Yea, Jeſus Chriſt who was Gods own Son, was a man of ſorrows, and acquainted with grief, Iſa. 53.3.

3. We cannot aſſure our ſelves that we ſhall be exempted from any kinde of trouble; for whilſt we are in the body, we are liable to all kindes of adverſity, Heb. 13.3. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which ſuffer adverſity, as being your ſelves alſo in the body. Better than we are, have met with all ſorts of troubles, Pſal. 88.7. Thou haſt afflicted me with all thy wayes. Pſal. 42.7. All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. We may meet with ſuch afflications as we never looked for, or ſcarce ſo much as thought of them, Iſa. 64.3. Thou didſt terrible things which we looked not for. And as all ſorts of afflictions do attend us; ſo at all times, and in all places, we cannot promiſe our ſelves freedom from affliction in any place, Acts 20.22,23. I go bound in the ſpirit unto Jeruſalem, not knowing the things that ſhall befal me there; ſave that the Holy Ghoſt witneſſeth in every City, ſaying, That bonds and afflictions abide me. Neither can we promiſe our ſelves freedom from trouble any one day, Prov. 27.1. Boaſt not thy ſelf of to morrow, for thou knoweſt not what a day may bring forth. Now ſeeing we are liable to all ſorts of afflictions in all places, and at all times, is it not our concernment to ſtand prepared continually for all ſorts of tryals?

4. God oft-times makes very great and ſuddain changes in our conditions, when we leaſt think of them: when we are in the height of proſperity, and adverſity is far from our thoughts; when we are looking for nothing but good dayes, God ſuddenly exerciſeth us with great tryals, Job 30.26. When I looked for good, then evil came unto me; and when I waited for light, there came darkneſs. Pſal. 30.6,7. In my proſperity, I ſaid, I ſhall never be moved; Lord by thy ſavour p. 337thou haſt made my mountain to ſtand ſtrong; thou didſt hide thy face, and I was troubled. When Job ſaid, I ſhall dye in my neſt, I ſhall multiply my dayes as the ſand, Job 29.18. It was but a little after he complains, Terrors are turned upon me, they purſue my ſoul as the winde, and my welfare paſſeth away as a cloud; and now my ſoul is powred out upon me, the dayes of affliction have taken hold upon me, Job 30.15,16. When Abraham was full of joy for his Son Iſaac, there ariſeth a great affliction in his Family; Iſhmael ſcoffs at Iſaac, Sarah makes ſute to Abraham to caſt out Hagar and her Son: and it is ſaid, The thing was very grievous in Abrahams ſight, becauſe of his Son, Gen. 20.11. Afterwards when God was ſo eminently preſent with Abraham, that Abimelech takes notice of it, and deſireth to make a league with him, Gen. 20.22,23. and after he had been worſhiping God, ver. 33. on a ſudden God brought as great a tryal upon him as poſſibly could befal him; he calls him to offer up his Son Iſaac for a burnt-offering, and that without any delay, Gen. 22.2. Take now thy Son, thine only Son Iſaac, whom thou loveſt, and get thee into the land Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt-offering—'Tis not, take a year, or a month hence, but, take now; he was to ſet upon the work without delay.

5. God calleth upon us with great earneſtneſs to prepare our ſelves to undergo ſuch afflictions as he ſhall lay upon us, Amos 4.12. Thus will I do unto thee, O Iſrael, and becauſe I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Iſrael. Jer. 46.14. Declare ye in Egypt, and publiſh in Migdol, and publiſh in Moab; ſay ye, Stand faſt, and prepare thee, for the ſword ſhall devour round round about thee. This exhortation to prepare for approaching judgments, is preſſed with great earneſtneſs; it is uſhered in with a four-fold p. 338call, Declare ye, publiſh, publiſh, ſay ye. What is it muſt be declared, and publiſhed with ſuch great earneſtneſs? Stand faſt, prepare thee—ſee alſo ver. 19. O thou danghter dwelling in Egypt, furniſh thy ſelf to go into captivity—

6. If afflictions come upon us before we are prepared for them, we ſhall be in danger to ſink under our burdens; but if we be well provided beforehand, we ſhall go cheerfully through, whatever it ſeemeth good unto the Lord to lay upon us, Pſal. 57.7. My heart is fixed (or as it is in the Margin) My heart is prepared, O God, my heart is prepared, I will ſing and give praiſe. David was fled into a Cave when he penned this Pſalm, as you may ſee by the title of it, and was ſurrounded with great calamities, as you may ſee, ver. 1, 4. In the ſhadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until theſe calamities be overpaſt. My ſoul is among lions, and I lie even among them that are ſet on fire, even the ſons of men, whoſe teeth are ſpears and arrows, and their tongue a ſharp ſword. Yet in the midſt of his troubles, he ſings for joy and praiſeth God; and what helped him to bear his troubles ſo cheerfully? His heart was prepared for them, My heart is prepared, I will ſing and give praiſe. Joſeph who had prepared for ſeven years Famine, lived comfortably, and felt no great inconvenience by it; other perſons that had laid up nothing before-hand, would have fainted and dyed, had not Joſeph relieved them. The Apoſtle was ſo far from being diſcouraged at his ſufferings, that he joyed in the greateſt of them, even to lay down his life for the Goſpels ſake, Phil. 2.17. Yea, and if I be offered upon the Sacrifice and Service of your Faith, I joy, and rejoyce with you all. And how came he to do thus? he was ready and prepared to ſuffer any thing for the ſake of Chriſt and p. 339the Goſpel, Acts 21.13.—I am ready, not to be bound only, but alſo to dye at Jeruſalem for the Name of the Lord Jeſus. Now having given you ſome reaſons why we ſhould prepare our ſelves for all ſorts of afflictions, I ſhall in the next place anſwer a weighty and neceſſary caſe of Conſcience, viz.

What ſhall we do that we may ſtand prepared to undergo any affliction that the Lord ſhall be pleaſed to lay upon us?

Anſ. 1. We muſt give our ſelves much unto prayer; we muſt pray before our afflictions come, and pray in our afflictions; we muſt not pray in a cold manner, but cry mightily to God, to ſtrengthen and ſupport us in our troubles. By prayer we ſhall obtain from God an heart prepared to undergo any troubles, Pſ. 10.17. Lord thou haſt heard the deſire of the humble, thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cauſe thine ear to hear. Pſal. 57.2,7. I will cry unto God moſt high, unto God that performeth all things for me. And what did David get by crying unto God? an heart prepared to bear his afflictions; as you may ſee ver. 7. My heart is prepared, O God, my heart is prepared. The Apoſtle adviſeth Chriſtians that would be able to ſtand in an evil day, to be much in prayer, Epheſ. 6.13,18. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withſtand in the evil day, and having done all to ſtand—praying alwayes with all prayer and ſupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perſeverance and ſupplication for all Saints. Obſerve how the Apoſtle multiplieth words to excite us to prayer, he doth not barely bid us pray, but pray alwayes; and as if that were not enough, he adds, with all prayer and ſupplication—and not only ſo, but he bids us p. 340watch thereunto, watch with perſeverance, yea, with all perſeverance. And adds, that this duty muſt be performed in a ſpiritual manner, With all prayer and ſupplication in the ſpirit: if we do not pray with our hearts and ſpirits as well as with our lips, yea, if there be not the graces of Gods Spirit exerciſed in prayer, as well as the actings of our own ſpirits, our Prayers are worth little in Gods account. The Apoſtle joyns theſe two together, Patient in tribulation, continuing inſtant in prayer, Rom. 12.12. Implying, that ſuch as deſire to be patient in all their tribulations, muſt be, and continue inſtant in Prayer.

2. Endeavour as much as in you lieth to ſtrengthen and encreaſe your Faith. Faith is the chiefeſt piece of the ſpiritual armour, which above all the reſt will help us to ſtand in an evil day. The Apoſtle would not have us neglect any piece of the ſpiritual armor, all muſt be put on; but Faith above all the reſt, Eph. 6.13,16. Take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withſtand in the evil day, and having done all to ſtand. Above all, taking the ſhield of Faith, wherewith ye ſhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. By faith a man may be able to do and ſuffer all things, Mark 9.23. All things are poſſible to him that believeth. The Apoſtles did, and ſuffered great things for God: and how? it was through faith, 1 Tim. 4.10. Therefore we both labour and ſuffer reproach, becauſe we truſt in the living God. The ſervants of God have endured all ſorts of tortures, and the moſt painful deaths that their enemies could inflict upon them, and all other afflictions, by the help of faith, Heb. 11.35,36,37. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better reſurrection; and others had tryals of cruel mockings and ſcourgings, yea moreover, of bonds and impriſonment. p. 341They were ſtoned, they were ſawn aſunder, were tempted, were ſlain with the ſword; they wandered about in ſheeps skins, and goats skins, being deſtitute, afflicted, tormented: and that they endured all theſe things through faith, you may ſee, ver. 33. Whatever difficulties, ſnares, or diſcouragements a man meets with in the world, either in reſpect of the good things, or the evil things of the world, faith will overcome them all, 1 John 5.4. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Faith will enable a man to reſiſt and overcome all the temptations of Satan, whereby he endeavoureth to diſturb and foil us in times of affliction, 1 Pet. 5.8,9. Your adverſary the Devil, as a roaring Lion walketh about ſeeking whom he may devour; whom reſiſt ſtedfaſt in the faith, knowing that the ſame afflictions are accompliſhed in your brethren that are in the world. Fear weakens the heart, and makes it faint at approaching troubles, Luke 21.26. Mens hearts failing them for fear—Now Faith conduceth much to the fixing and eſtabliſhing the heart againſt fears, Pſal. 112.7. He ſhall not be afraid of evil tydings, his heart is fixed, truſting in the Lord. Pſal. 56.11. In God have I put my truſt, I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. And therefore it conduceth much to the preparing of a man to undergo his afflictions. I might ſhew you here what you ſhould believe in reference to your afflictions, to enable you to bear them with chearfulneſs: among many things that might be inſtanced in, I will mention only theſe three.

1. Believe that no affliction doth, or ever ſhall befal you, but by the wiſe and gracious providence of God; and that not only every affliction, but every circumſtance in every affliction, is ordered and diſpoſed by the infinite wiſdom of God. This is agreeable to ſuch Scriptures as theſe, Rom. 11.36. p. 342Of him, and through him, and to him are all things. Epheſ. 1.11.—Who worketh all things, after the counſel of his own will. Amos 3.6. Shall there be evil in a City, and the Lord hath not done it? Matth. 10.30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. The believing that Gods hand is in our afflictions, will bow our hearts, and make them ſtoop and ſubmit to God, though it be a ſmarting Rod wherewith the Lord corrects us. They were dreadful judgments which Samuel denounced againſt Eli, yet he ſubmits himſelf readily to it, becauſe it came from God, 1 Sam. 3.18. It is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth him good.

2. Believe that in every affliction God deſigneth the bringing glory to his Name, and the doing good to your own ſouls; you have good ground to believe this, for the Scriptures do aſſure us, that God aims both at our good and his own glory, in all our afflictions, Heb. 12.10. He chaſtneth us for our profit—Rom. 8.28. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. 2 Cor. 4.17. Our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Rom. 11.36. To him are all things: All things are not only of God as the efficient, but they alſo tend to him as their end, Iſa. 5.16. The Lord of Hoſts ſhall be exalted in judgment. This made the Apoſtle joyful in his afflictions, that they did illuſtrate the glory of God, 2 Cor. 12.9,10. Moſt gladly therefore will I rather glory in mine infirmities, that the power of Chriſt may reſt upon me; therefore I take pleaſure in infirmities, in reproaches, in neceſſities, in perſecutions, in diſtreſſes for Chriſts ſake.—He rejoyced alſo in his afflictions, becauſe they did promote the good of his ſoul. When ſome preached Chriſt out of contention, p. 343with a deſign to add affliction to his bonds, Phil. 1.14. Was he troubled at the affliction they created to him? No: for he ſaith, I therein do rejoyce, yea, and will rejoyce, ver. 18. And what made him to rejoyce herein? He gives us the reaſon of his joy, ver. 19. For I know that this ſhall turn to my ſalvation, through your Prayer, and the ſupply of the Spirit of Jeſus Chriſt.

3. Believe that you ſhall be delivered out of your troubles; this will be a means to ſupport you under them, Pſal. 27.13. I had fainted, unleſs I had believed to ſee the goodneſs of the Lord in the land of the living. You have good ground from the Word of God to believe, that you ſhall be delivered out of all your troubles, though they be very many, Pſal. 34.19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. And though they be great as well as many, ſuch as you never met with, or heard of the like, yet you may reſt upon God that he will deliver you out of them, Jer. 30.7. Alas, for that day is great, ſo that none is like it, it is even the time of Jacobs trouble, but he ſhall be ſaved out of it? What is your affliction? Is it the rod of men? God will not ſuffer it to lye over-long upon you, Pſal. 125.3. The rod of the wicked ſhall not reſt upon the lot of the righteous; leſt the righteous put forth their hand unto iniquity. Is it the Rod of God that is upon you? Do the arrows of the Almighty ſtick faſt in your ſoul? doth he contend with you? This will not laſt alwayes, Iſa. 57.16. I will not contend for ever, neither will I be alwayes wrath; for the ſpirit ſhould fail before me, and the ſoul which I have made. Doth the Lord do more then contend with you? doth he ſeem to reject and caſt off your ſoul? you may be p. 344aſſured that he will not deal thus with you alwayes becauſe he himſelf hath ſaid it, that he will not caſt off for ever, Lam. 3.31,32. The Lord will not caſt off for ever; but though he cauſe grief, yet will he have compaſſion according to the multitude of his mercies. Is it a temptation of Satan that diſquiets you? wait but a while on God, and he will tread Satan and all his temptations under your feet, Rom. 16.20. The God of Peace ſhall bruiſe Satan under your feet ſhortly. Is it ſome ſin that vexeth and troubleth your ſoul? wait a while upon God, and he will deliver you from your ſins as well as your other troubles, Mich. 7.19. He will turn again, he will have compaſſion upon us; he will ſubdue our iniquities.—Pſal. 130.7,8. Let Iſrael hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption, and he ſhall redeem Iſrael from all his iniquities. When David was under many ſorrows that diſturbed and caſt down his ſoul, he bore up himſelf with hope of a better ſtate; that though for the preſent he was in a mourning condition, the time would come wherein he ſhould praiſe God for helping him out of his troubles, Pſal. 42.5. Why art thou caſt down, O my ſoul, and why art thou diſquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him for the help of his countenance.

3. If we would be prepared to undergo every affliction that God ſhall lay upon us, we muſt labour to get Gods ſtrength engaged with us, & for us: Though of our ſelves we can do nothing, yet through the help of God, we ſhall be able to do and ſuffer great things, Pſal. 60.11,12. Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man; Through God we ſhall do valiantly,—Pſal. 18.29. By thee have I run through a Troup, and by my God have I leaped over a Wall. By the help of p. 345God we may do and ſuffer every thing, Phil. 4.13. I can do all things through Chriſt which ſtrengtheneth me. If a man have God for his ſtrength, he need not fear any thing, though an hoſt of men ſhould ſet themſelves againſt him, Pſal. 27.1,3. The Lord is the ſtrength of my life, of whom ſhall I be afraid? Though an hoſt ſhould encamp againſt me, mine heart ſhall not fear; though war ſhould riſe againſt me, in this will I be confident: yea, though all the world ſhould ſet themſelves againſt us, if we have God with us, we need not fear any thing, Pſal. 118.10. All Nations compaſſed me about, but in the Name of the Lord will I deſtroy them. Rom. 8.31. What ſhall we then ſay to theſe things, If God be for us, who can be againſt us? Though the whole world ſhould be turned upſide down, and all places ſhould be full of trouble and confuſion, and there ſhould be no peace or ſafety either on the Sea or Land; that man that hath God for his ſtrength need not fear any thing, Pſal. 46.1,2,3. God is our refuge and ſtrength, a very preſent help in trouble: Therefore will we not fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the Mountains be carried into the midſt of the Sea; though the waters thereof roar, and be troubled, though the Mountains ſhake at the ſwelling thereof. If then you would bear up comfortably under all your afflictions; rememember the exhortation of the Apoſtle, Epheſ. 6.10. Finally, my Brethren, be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Do not truſt to your own ſtrength, but ſeek to be ſtrong in the Lord, and to get his mighty power to aſſiſt you.

It may be ſome will ſay, What ſhall we do that we may get Gods ſtrength to ſupport us under, and to carry us through all the troubles of this life? I anſwer,

1. Be ſenſible of your own weakneſs, and renounce p. 346all confidence in your own ſtrength. God is wont to communicate his ſtrength moſt eminently to his ſervants, when they have loweſt thoughts of their own ſtrength, and are under deepeſt apprehenſions of their own weakneſs, 2 Cor. 12.9,10. My ſtrength is made perfect in weakneſs,—When I am weak then am I ſtrong. Iſa. 40.29. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he encreaſeth ſtrength. When we grow conceited of our own abilities, God withdraws himſelf from us, and leaves us to fall under ſmall tryals. Peter being over confident of himſelf, that he could ſuffer any thing, yea death it ſelf for the ſake of Chriſt, and that though all men ſhould deny Chriſt he would not, Matth. 26.33,35. fell under the firſt temptation that aſſaulted him; a Damſel did but ſay, Thou waſt with Jeſus of Galilee, and he denyed Chriſt in the preſence of all that were in the Palace, ver. 69, 70. God is ſo far from helping proud perſons, that he is wont to ſet himſelf againſt them, Jam. 4.6. God reſiſteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. I will mention three ways whereby you may be convinced of your own weakneſs, and of the abſolute neceſſity of Gods ſtrength, to carry you through your afflictions. 1. Weigh well what the Scripture ſaith of mans impotency; we are ſuch weak creatures, that without divine aſſiſtance we cannot do or ſuffer any thing, though it be never ſuch a ſmall matter, Joh. 15.5. Without me ye can do nothing. Thinking is much eaſier than either doing or ſuffering; yet of our ſelves, we have not ability ſo much as to think any thing, 2 Cor. 3.5. Not that we are ſufficient of our ſelves to think anything as of our ſelves, but our ſufficiency is of God. 2. Obſerve how unable you have been when God hath withdrawn himſelf, to bear thoſe ſmall and light troubles wherewith God hath p. 347exerciſed you. Hath not a trifle, that which hath been an affliction and a trouble in your imagination, rather than in reality, dejected and caſt you down? If you have fainted under ſmall troubles, what will you do when great ones come, if you have not the Lords help? Jer. 12.5. If thou haſt run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canſt thou contend with Horſes? And if in the Land of Peace, wherein thou truſteſt, they wearied thee; then how wilt thou do in the ſwelling of Jordan? 3. Conſider what great men have fainted under ſmall tryals, when the Lord hath left them but a little to themſelves. Jonah a Prophet of the Lord, for the loſs of a gourd, which ſprung up and withered in a day, fell into ſuch a fret, that he was even angry with God, and weary of his life, and wiſhed that he might dye. The Apoſtle Peter upon the ſpeech of a maid, denyed Chriſt, and ſwore that he did not ſo much as know the man. If ſuch eminent perſons as theſe fainted under ſuch ſmall tryals; what ſhall we do without the help of God?

2. Being ſenſible of your own weakneſs, cry unto God to give you his ſtrength, Pſal. 86.16. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me, give thy ſtrengh unto thy ſervant—Pſal. 119.28. Strengthen thou me according to thy Word. But will this do? Will God give us his ſtrength if we cry to him for it? yea, he will, Pſal. 138.3. In the day when I cryed, thou anſweredſt me; and ſtrengthenedſt me with ſtrength in my ſoul.

3. Reſt and rely upon God for the communicating of his ſtrength to your ſouls. The way to engage God to help and ſtrengthen you, is to truſt in him, 1 Chron. 5.20. They were helped—for they cryed to God in the battel, and he was entreated of them; becauſe p. 348they put their truſt in him. 2 Chron. 13.11. Help us, O Lord our God, for we reſt on thee. Pſal. 28.7. The Lord is my ſtrength, and my ſhield, my heart truſted in him, and I am helped. Gods power is communicated in an eminent manner to thoſe that believe in him, Epheſ. 1.19. And what is the exceeding greatneſs of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. Though we are never ſo weak in our ſelves, we may become ſtrong by reſting upon God, Heb. 11.33,34. Who through faith—out of weakneſs were made ſtrong. If you ask, What ground have we to rely upon God, that he will give us his ſtrength to ſupport us under all our troubles? I anſwer, We have a ſure Word of Promiſe; we have not only one promiſe, but many to aſſure us, that God will not leave us deſtitute of his help and ſtrength, Iſa. 41.10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not diſmayed, for I am thy God; I will ſtrengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteouſneſs. Zech. 10.12. I will ſtrengthen them in the Lord, and they ſhall walk up and down in his Name, ſaith the Lord. Pſal. 29.11. The Lord will give ſtrength unto his people. Joel 3.15,16. The Sun and Moon ſhall be darkened, and the Stars ſhall withdraw their ſhining; the Lord alſo ſhall roar out of Zion, and utter his voyce from Jeruſalem, and the Heavens and the Earth ſhall ſhake; but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the ſtrength of the children of Iſrael.

Object. I have cryed unto God, and hung upon, and pleaded his Promiſes for his ſtrength, and ſtill I remain in a weak helpleſs condition.

Anſw. Though it be ſo, yet cry ſtill to the Lord, Iſa. 63.15. Look down from Heaven, and behold from the Habitation of thy Holineſs, and of thy glory; where is thy zeal, and thy ſtrength, the ſounding of thy bowels p. 349and of thy mercies towards me? are they reſtrained? Iſa. 51.9. Awake, awake, put on ſtrength, O arm of the Lord. Pſal. 105.4. Seek the Lord and his ſtrength, ſeek his face evermore. And wait patiently upon him, and in due time he will ſtrengthen you, Pſal. 27.14. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he ſhall ſtrengthen thine heart; wait, I ſay, on the Lord. Iſa. 40.31. They that wait upon the Lord, ſhall renew their ſtrength, they ſhall mount up with wings like Eagles, they ſhall run and not be weary, and they ſhall walk and not faint.

4. Keep in Gods wayes; when we go out of Gods wayes we cauſe God to withdraw himſelf, and when God withdraws, our ſtrength departs from us; as it was with Sampſon, when his God departed from him, his ſtrength departed alſo, Judg. 16.19. His ſtrength went from him. How came he to loſe his ſtrength? by loſing the preſence of God, ver. 20. I will go out as at other times; and he wiſt not that the Lord was departed from him: ſo it is with Chriſtians, when they loſe their God, they loſe their ſtrength. But by keeping in Gods wayes, they ſhall keep God with them, and increaſe their ſtrength. That this is the way to get Gods ſtrength, to keep in Gods ways, you may ſee Prov. 10.29. The way of the Lord is ſtrength to the upright. Pſal. 84.5. Bleſſed is the man whoſe ſtrength is in thee, in whoſe heart are the wayes of them. Job 17.19.

5. Get your intereſt in God made out to your ſouls. The knowing of God to be our God, conveyeth great ſtrength into our ſouls, and will ſupport us in our greateſt troubles. What Solomon ſaith of knowledge, Prov. 24.5. A wiſe man is ſtrong, a man of knowledge encreaſeth ſtrength, is eminently true of this knowledge that God is our God; for the p. 350more clearly we know God to be our God, the more we ſhall encreaſe in ſtrength, Iſa. 49.5. My God ſhall be my ſtrength. 1 Sam. 30.6. David was greatly diſtreſſed, for the people ſpake of ſtoning him;—but David encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God. The knowledg of our intereſt in God, filleth our hearts with joy, Luk. 1.47. My ſpirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour; and joy ſtrengthens the ſoul, Neh. 8.10. The joy of the Lord is your ſtrength. Wherefore grow in acquaintance with God, if you will grow in ſtrength to ſuffer the will of God cheerfully, Col. 1.10,11.—Increaſing in the knowledge of God, ſtrengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long ſuffering with joyfulneſs; eſpecially labour to grow in the knowledg of your intereſt in God.

6. Let the Word of Chriſt dwell richly in your ſouls; the Word of God abiding in you, will be a great means to ſtrengthen you, 1 Joh. 2.14. Ye are ſtrong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. The efficacy and power of the Word of God is wonderful. By ſpeaking of a word, God created the whole world, Pſal. 33.6,9. By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made, and all the hoſts of them, by the breath of his mouth: For he ſpake and it was done, he commanded and it ſtood faſt. By his Word he governs and upholdeth all his creatures, Heb. 1.3. Ʋpholding all things by the Word of his Power. Is there ſuch power in the Word as to uphold all things, and doſt thou doubt whether it be able to uphold thy ſoul? If a mans heart be broken in pieces and melted with grief, the Word of God will heal and ſtrengthen him, and ſettle him in a comfortable condition, Pſal. 107.20. He ſent his Word and healed them, and delivered them from their p. 351deſtructions. Pſal. 119.28. My ſoul melteth for heavineſs, ſtrengthen thou me according to thy Word.

7. If you would be ſtrong in the Lord, put on the whole armour of God, Epheſ. 6.10,11. Finally my Brethren, be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. But ſome may ſay, How ſhall we be ſtrong in the Lord? the next words ſhews this, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to ſtand againſt the wiles of the Devil. No part of the armour of God muſt be neglected, if we would be ſtrong in the Lord. What this armour of God is, the Apoſtle ſheweth from the 14^th. ver. to the 18^th.

4. If we would be prepared to undergo all afflictions cheerfully, we muſt labour to get our ſins pardoned, and get our pardon evidenced, and keep clear our evidences of our juſtified eſtate. Senſe of guilt bows down the ſoul, and weakens our ſtrength, and renders us unfit for a ſuffering condition, Pſal. 31.10. My ſtrength faileth becauſe of mine iniquity. Such of the Jews as were under the ſenſe of unpardoned guilt, were ready to faint under their afflictions, when they were carried captive into Babylon, Lam. 3.18,19. I ſaid my ſtrength and my hope is periſhed from the Lord; remembring mine affliction and my miſery, the wormwoed and the gall. And if you would know what made their cup ſo bitter, that they fainted under it, you may ſee ver. 42. We have tranſgreſſed, and have rebelled, thou haſt not pardoned. But when our ſins are pardoned, that will help us to bear afflictions cheerfully, Iſa. 33.24. The Inhabitant ſhall not ſay, I am ſick; the People that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven their iniquity. Matth. 9.2. They brought unto him a man ſick of the Palſie, lying on a bed; and Jeſus ſeeing their faith, ſaid unto the ſick of the Palſie, Son, be of good chear, thy ſins be forgiven thee. Sickneſs is a p. 352great affliction; and this man was ſo ſick that he kept his bed, yet Chriſt bids him be of good cheer, becauſe his ſins were forgiven him, before he ſpeaks one word of removing his ſickneſs. A man that is in a juſtified eſtate, may triumph and glory in his greateſt troubles, Rom. 5.1,3. Being juſtified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt:—And not only ſo, but we glory in tribulations alſo.—

5. If we would be prepared for a ſuffering condition, we muſt acquaint our ſelves with, and cleave and adhere to the death and ſufferings of Chriſt, and labour to underſtand and get an intereſt in the imputed righteouſneſs of Chriſt. Chriſts righteouſneſs is one of the main Pillars our Souls have to lean upon, for our ſupport under all our troubles; Iſa. 41.10. I will ſtrengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteouſneſs. Our chiefeſt ſtrength lyeth in our right hand, and when God calleth his righteouſneſs, his right hand; it may imply, that Chriſts Righteouſneſs (which is oft called the Righteouſneſs of God, as Rom. 1.17. Rom. 3.22,23.) is the chief and principal means for the ſtrengthning and upholding of our ſouls. David found great ſupport in all his troubles, by looking to this righteouſneſs, Pſal. 71.16. I will go in the ſtrength of the Lord God; I will make mention of thy Righteouſneſs, even of thine only. It is recorded of the ſervants of God, mentioned in the Revelation, who went through great tribulations, that they were carried through their ſufferings by looking and adhering to the ſufferings of Chriſt, Revel. 7.14. Theſe are they which come out of great tribulation, and have waſhed their Robes, and made them white in the bloud of the Lamb. Rev. 12.11. They overcame (that is, the Devil who raiſed up perſecutions againſt them, as you p. 353may ſee, ver. 17.) by the bloud of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Teſtimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.

6. Let us get good evidences, that we are in the love and favour of God. Well-grounded apprehenſions of Gods love to our ſouls, will help us to bear up cheerfully under the greateſt trials, as Perſecution, Sword, Famine, &c. and enable us to overcome them all, Rom. 8.35,37. Who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt? ſhall Tribulation, or Diſtreſs, or Perſcution, or Famine, or Nakedneſs, or Peril, or Sword? Nay, in all theſe things we are more than Conquerours, through him that loved us. The apprehenſions of Gods love to us, will cauſe us to love God, 1 Joh. 5.19. We love him, becauſe he firſt loved us. And when we love God, we ſhall bear any thing that comes from him. Love to men will make us bear with all things that we meet with from them. The Apoſtle ſpeaking of love, ſaith, It beareth all things, beliveth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, 1 Cor. 13.7. How much more will love to God, cauſe us to bear and endure all things that we meet with from God? Love will carry us out to ſuffer all afflictions, even death it ſelf, Cant. 8.6,7. Love is ſtrong as death,—Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the flouds drown it. When it was a time of great affliction with the people of God, they pray hard for the light of Gods countenance; and if they could but obtain that, they would account themſelves in a ſafe and happy condition, notwithſtanding all their troubles, Pſal. 80.4,5,6,7. O Lord God of Hoſts, How long wilt thou be angry with the Prayers of thy People? Thou feedeſt them with the bread of tears, and giveſt them tears to drink in great meaſure; Thou makeſt us a ſtrife unto our Neighbours, and our enemies laugh among themſelves. p. 354Turn us again, O God of Hoſts, and cauſe thy face to ſhine, and we ſhall be ſaved.

7. We muſt get and keep Gods preſence with our ſouls, that will fortifie our ſouls to undergo any troubles with courage and chearfulneſs, Pſal. 23.4. Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the ſhadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Iſa. 50.7,8. The Lord God will help me, therefore ſhall I not be confounded; therefore have I ſet my face like a flint, and I know that I ſhall not be aſhamed: He is near that juſtifieth me, who will contend with me? Pſal. 46.2. We will not fear though the Earth be removed, and though the Mountains be caſt into the midſt of the Sea,—And why? What put ſuch courage into them? they had Gods preſence with them, ver. 5, 7. God is in the midſt of her, ſhe ſhall not be moved; God ſhall help her, and that right early; the Lord of Hoſts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. This upheld Chriſt, and carried him comfortably through all his ſufferings, (who went through greater ſufferings than ever any man met with all) Act. 2.25,26. I foreſaw the Lord alwayes before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I ſhould not be moved; therefore did mine heart rejoyce, and my tongue was glad; moreover alſo my fleſh ſhall reſt in hope. As Gods preſence with Chriſt upheld him, ſo it will alſo uphold us in all our ſufferings. If any ſay, It is true, Gods preſence with a man will help him to do great things; but God is departed from me, How ſhall I gain his preſence again? I anſwer, Gods departing from us uſually ariſth from our departing from him; and if after we are departed from him, and he is departed from us, we return to him, he will return again unto us, Zech. 1.3. Turn unto me ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, and I will turn unto you, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. Mal. p. 3553.7. Even from the dayes of your Fathers, ye are gone away from mine Ordinances, and have not kept them; return unto me, and I will turn unto you ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. After we are returned to God, and he is returned to us, if we keep with him, he will keep with us, 2 Chron. 15.2. The Lord is with you, while ye be with him. Joh. 15.4. Abide in me, and I in you.

8. We muſt get our hearts weaned from the world; if our affections be ſet inordinately on any earthly things, we ſhall find it an hard matter to bear up under our afflictions, Jer. 45.3. Thou didſt ſay, Wo is me now; for the Lord hath added grief to my ſorrow, I fainted in my ſighing, and I find no reſt: And what cauſed Baruch to faint under his tryals? we may ſee the root of his diſtemper, ver. 5. Seekeſt thou great things for thy ſelf? ſeek them not. Though Baruch was a good man, his affections were carried out too much after great things in the world, and that made affliction very burdenſom to him. The Apoſtle Paul who was crucified to the world, was prepared and ready to ſuffer whatever God ſhould call him to, Gal. 6.14. The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Acts 21.13. I am ready not to be bound only, but alſo to die at Jeruſalem for the Lord Jeſus. We muſt not only ſet looſe to all worldly things, but to our own lives alſo; when we are willing to yield up our lives to God, we ſhall not be much moved by any troubles that come upon us for the Lords ſake, Acts 20.23,24. The Holy Ghoſt witneſſeth in every City, ſaying, that bonds and afflictions abide me; but none of theſe things move me, neither count I my life dear unto my ſelf. Rev. 12.11. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their Teſtimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.

p. 3569. We muſt accuſtom our ſelves to bear our leſſer tryals with patience and ſubmiſſion to the wil of God, and that will fit and prepare us for greater. There is ſcarce a day paſſeth over our heads, wherein the Lord doth not in one kind or another, try our patience and ſubmiſſion to his will; now the right bearing of thoſe croſſes which every day bringeth forth, would fit us for greater tryals, Lam. 3.27. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. If we would know what good cometh by an early accuſtoming our ſelves to bear the croſs, the following verſes ſhew, that it will make him patient and ſilent under his ſufferings, ver. 28. He ſitteth alone and keepeth ſilence, becauſe he hath born it upon him. It will make a man ſuffer humbly, ver. 29. He putteth his mouth in the duſt—It maketh him ſuffer willingly, ver. 30. He giveth his cheek to him that ſmiteth him. Our Lord Jeſus exhorts us to take up our croſs dayly, Luk. 9.23. He ſaid unto them, If any man will come after me, let him deny himſelf, and take up his croſs dayly, and follow me. If we did practice this counſel; if we did every day expect croſſes, and quietly ſubmit our ſelves under ſuch croſſes as every day bringeth forth; if we could but deny our ſelves, and reſign up our wills unto Gods will, this would prepare us to undergo any tryal that the Lord ſhall ſee meet to lay upon us.

10. A well grounded hope of eternal life, will help us to bear all the troubles of this life cheerfully. A Chriſtian that hath good hope through grace, that he ſhall go to Heaven when he dieth, may by vertue of this hope rejoyce and glory in the midſt of his greateſt tribulations, Rom. 5.2,3. We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God,—we glory in tribulations. It was this carried Moſes through all the difficulties he met with in leaving Pharaoh's Court, in wandering among p. 357the Iſraelites by the ſpace of forty years in the Wilderneſs, Heb. 11.24,25,26. By faith, Moſes when he was come to years, refuſed to be called the ſon of Pharaoh's Daughter, chooſing rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon: eſteeming the reproach of Chriſt greater riches than the treaſures in Egypt; for he had reſpect unto the recompence of reward. The hope of the reward that he ſhould have in heaven, cauſed him to make light both of the good and evil things of this world. Hope of ſalvation is like an helmet, which is of great uſe for our preſervation, 1 Theſ. 5.8.—putting on for an helmet the hope of ſalvation. Hope is of the ſame uſe to the ſoul in afflictions, that the Anchor is to the Ship in a ſtorm, which keeps it from periſhing by being driven upon the Rocks or Sands, Heb. 6.19. Which hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul, both ſure and ſtedfaſt, which entereth into that within the vail. Therefore if we would prepare our ſelves for afflictions, we muſt get a ſolid and well grounded hope of eternal life.

11. Let us conſider what it is which we have found in our own experience, hath made our yoke heavy; and alſo what we have obſerved either in reading, or by diſcourſe, hath made the yoke of affliction heavy and hard to be born by others, and let us take care to prevent thoſe things: As for inſtance. 1. We may obſerve, that the want of Gods preſence in the time of affliction, hath made affliction very burdenſom and hard to be born, 1 Sam. 28.15. I am ſore diſtreſſed, for the Philiſtines make war againſt me, and God is departed from me, and anſwereth me no more. When Saul's Enemies came againſt him, and God was departed, this put him into ſuch diſtreſs, that he knew not what to do. When God withdrew from Job in his affliction, p. 358the want of Gods preſence made his affliction very bitter, Job 23.2,8,9. Even to day is my complaint bitter, my ſtroke is heavier than my groaning: Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him; on the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him; he hideth himſelf on the right hand that I cannot ſee him. When David was in trouble, he tells God, if he did hide his face from him, he ſhould be like a dead man, Pſal. 143.7. Hide not thy face from me, leſt I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Therefore it is our wiſdom to do what in us lyeth to get and keep Gods preſence with our ſouls, as was hinted before. 2. A galled and guilty Conſcience. When David was under the ſenſe of guilt in the time of his ſickneſs, it was ſuch a burden, that he was ready to ſink under it, Pſal. 38.3,4. There is no ſoundneſs in my fleſh, becauſe of thine anger; neither is there any reſt in my bones, becauſe of my ſins; for mine iniquities are gone over mine head, as an heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. 3. When we promiſe our ſelves a ſetled courſe of proſperity, and do not look for trouble, this makes affliction dreadful and terrible, Iſa. 64.3. Thou didſt terrible things which we looked not for. Pſal. 30.6,7. In my proſperity I ſaid, I ſhall never be moved,—thou didſt hide thy face and I was troubled. 4. When we have not learnt to deny our ſelves, and to reſign and to ſubmit our wills unto the Will of God. It is very irkſome to ſelf-willed perſons, and ſuch as abound with ſelf-love to meet with croſſes; Our Lord Jeſus exhorts us to deny our ſelves, before he exhorts us to take up our croſs, Mar. 8.34. Whoſoever will come after me, let him deny himſelf and take up his croſs: which implyes that no man can bear affliction with a chearful contented mind, but ſuch as have learnt to deny p. 359themſelves. 5. When God doth not only withdraw his preſence (of which I ſpoke before) but ſheweth himſelf terrible to us in an evil day, this maketh affliction very irkſome to the ſoul. This the Prophet prayeth againſt, Jer. 17.17. Be not a terror unto me, thou art my hope in the day of evil. This made the calamity of the Jews exceeding heavy, and hard to be born, that God ſet himſelf againſt them in the time of trouble, Lam. 3.3,7. Surely againſt me is he turned—he hath made my chain heavy.

12. Treaſure up in your hearts the promiſes of God which relate to an afflicted condition. It is a great help to the bearing of affliction, to be well acquainted with the promiſes that God hath made to his people that are in an afflicted condition. David found great comfort from Gods promiſes in his afflictions, Pſal. 119.49,50. Remember thy word unto thy ſervant, upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope, this is my comfort in mine affliction. When he met with ſuch hard tryals that he ſtood aſtoniſhed to ſee how God dealt with him, he was filled with joy when he called to minde the promiſe of God, Pſal. 60.3,6. Thou haſt ſhewen thy people hard things, thou haſt made us to drink the wine of aſtoniſhment; God hath ſpoken in his holineſs, I will rejoyce. He telleth us elſewhere, if it had not been for the comfort that he found in Gods word, he had periſhed in his afflictions, Pſal. 119.92. Ʋnleſs thy Law had been my delights, I ſhould then have periſhed in mine affliction. It was by the help of the word of truth that the Apoſtle went through his manifold troubles with great patience, 2 Cor. 6.4,5,7. Now there are variety of promiſes which do relate to an afflicted condition, which may be of great uſe to us in our afflictions, which we ſhall do well to ſtore up againſt an evil day. I will mention ſome of them.

p. 3601. God hath promiſed to moderate our afflictions, and to lay no more upon us than he will enable us to bear, 1 Cor. 10.13. There hath no temptation taken you, but ſuch as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not ſuffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation alſo make a way to eſcape, that ye may be able to bear it. Iſa. 27.8. In meaſure when it ſhooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it; he ſtayeth his rough wind, in the day of his Eaſt wind. Jer. 15.11. The Lord ſaid, Verily it ſhall be well with thy remnant, verily I will cauſe the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil, and in the time of affliction. This promiſe is added after the mentioning of Gods unalterable purpoſe to ſend four ſore Judgments upon the Jews, Death, the Sword, Famine, and Captivity, verſe 1, 2. So alſo after mention of a time of trouble, ſuch as there had not been the like, God comforts his people with his promiſe, that he would not correct them out of meaſure, though he ſuffered them to partake of the common calamity, Jer. 30.7,10,11. Alas, for that day is great, ſo that none is like it, it is even the time of Jacobs trouble—Yet the Lord encourageth Jacob not to be afraid, Fear thou not, O my ſervant Jacob, ſaith the Lord, neither be diſmayed, O Iſrael—for I am with thee, ſaith the Lord, to ſave thee, though I make a full end of all Nations, whether I have ſcattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee; but I will correct thee in meaſure, and will not leave thee altogether unpuniſhed.

2. God hath promiſed us his preſence in our afflictions, Pſal. 91.15. He ſhall call upon me, and I will anſwer him, I will be with him in trouble. Iſa. 43.1,2. But now, thus ſaith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Iſrael, Fear not—When thou paſſeſt through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers they ſhall not overflow thee: when thou p. 361walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt; neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee. This promiſe hath dependance on the laſt verſe, where the Prophet telleth us, what calamities were come upon Iſrael, He hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the ſtrength of battle; and it hath ſet him on fire round about—and then addeth, but now, thus ſaith the Lord—Fear not—When thou paſſeſt through the waters I will be with thee—God would not have his people fear any trouble, becauſe he will be with them in all their troubles, in one as well as another; and that not only when they firſt enter into them, but till they are ſafely paſſed through all the troubles of this life.

3. God hath promiſed to ſtrengthen, and ſupport, and uphold us in all our troubles: I have mentioned ſeveral promiſes to this purpoſe already, as Joel 3.15,16. Iſa. 41.10. I will add two or three more, Nahum 1.7. The Lord is good, a ſtrong hold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that truſt in him. Pſal. 37.39,40. The ſalvation of the righteous is of the Lord; he is their ſtrength in time of trouble: And the Lord ſhall help them, and deliver them; he ſhall deliver them from the wicked, and ſave them becauſe they put their truſt in him. Iſa. 41.14. Fear not thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Iſrael; I will help thee, ſaith the Lord, and thy redeemer the Holy One of Iſrael: ſee alſo Iſa. 25.4.

4. God hath promiſed to comfort and revive our ſouls when we are in affliction, Pſal. 138.7. Though I walk in the midſt of trouble, thou wilt revive me; thou ſhalt ſtretch forth thine hand againſt the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand ſhall ſave me. Micah 7.8. When I ſit in darkneſs, the Lord ſhall be a light unto me. Pſal. 71.20,21. Thou which haſt ſhewn me great and ſore troubles, ſhall quicken me again, and ſhalt bring me p. 362up again from the depths of the earth, thou ſhalt encreaſe my greatneſs, and comfort me on every ſide. Iſa. 66.13. As one whom his mother comforteth, ſo will I comfort you, and ye ſhall be comforted in Jeruſalem. John 14.18. I will not leave you comfortleſs, I will come to you.

5. God hath promiſed to ſanctifie our afflictions, and he hath promiſed they ſhall purge out our ſins, and make us more holy, and ſhall be all of them ſo bleſſed unto us, that they ſhall work together for our good, Iſa. 27.9. By this ſhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away their ſin. Zech. 13.9. I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as ſilver is refined—Rom. 8.28. We know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpoſe.

6. God hath promiſed in due time to deliver us out of all our afflictions, 1 Pet. 5.6. Humble your ſelves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Job 5.19. He ſhall deliver thee in ſix troubles, yea, in ſeven there ſhall no evil touch thee. Pſal. 34.19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. God hath promiſed when he ſeeth it to be moſt for our good, and for his own glory to preſerve us from afflictions, Pſal. 121.7. The Lord ſhall preſerve thee from all evil, he ſhall preſerve thy ſoul. Pſal. 32.7. Thou art my hiding place, thou ſhalt preſerve me from trouble, thou ſhalt compaſs me about with ſongs of deliverance: but when he doth not preſerve us from trouble, he hath promiſed to deliver us out of trouble, Pſal. 50.15. Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me.