Counsel to the Afflicted, Question 3 · Section 2
SECT. 2.
2. They that have ſuſtained little or no loſs by this dreadful fire, wherein ſo many thouſands of perſons and families have ſuffered very deeply, have great cauſe to give thanks unto God for ſparing and delivering their ſubſtance, and their houſes from this devouring Fire. The Prophet Iſaiah having mentioned altime of great deſolation, wherein a little remnant ſhould eſcape, telleth us what this remnant ſhould render unto the Lord, Iſa. 24.13,14. When thus it ſhall be in the midſt of the Land among the people, there ſhall be as the ſhaking of an Olive Tree, and as the gleaning Grapes when the vintage is done; they ſhall lift up their voice, they ſhall ſing for the majeſty of the Lord:—Four times in one Pſalm doth the Holy Ghoſt call upon the children of men to praiſe the Lord for delivering them out of their diſtreſſes, Pſal. 107.8,15,21,31. O that men would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſs, and for his wonderful works to the children of men. When David was delivered from the hands of violent men, he was much affected with the mercy of God, and determines to give God hearty thanks for it, Pſal. 18.48,49. Thou haſt delivered me from the violent man; therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Heathen, and ſing praiſe unto thy Name. To be delivered from the violence of fire, is as great a mercy as to be delivered from violent men; and therefore you ſhould reſolve to give God thanks for your deliverance, as David did for his. Be not only affected with this mercy for the preſent, but let the ſenſe and remembrance of it abide with you as long as you live. When the Iſraelites eſcaped ſafe through the Red-Sea, where the Egyptians were drowned, they were much affected with this mercy for a little while; but in a ſhort time it was as much forgotten, as if it had never been received, Pſal. 106.12,13. They ſang his praiſe, they ſoon forgot his works. David was of another ſpirit, he charged his ſoul never to forget Gods benefits, but to bleſs God and be thankful for them all the dayes of his life, Pſal. 103.2. Bleſs the Lord, O my ſoul, and forget not all his benefits. Pſal. 34.1. I will bleſs the Lord at all times; his praiſe ſhall continually be in my mouth. Pſal. 30.12. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Pſal. 104.33. I will ſing unto the Lord as long as I live; I will ſing praiſe unto my God, while I have my being. We pleaſe God exceedingly, when we give him praiſe and thanks by Jeſus Chriſt, for the mercies he beſtoweth upon us, Heb. 13.15,16. By him therefore let us offer the ſacrifice of praiſe to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his Name—for with ſuch ſacrifice God is well-pleaſed. Pſal. 69.30,31. I will praiſe the Name of God with a Song, and will magnifie him with Thanksgiving; this alſo ſhall pleaſe the Lord better than an Oxe or Buliock that hath horns and hoofs. God accounts the praiſe that his ſervants offer up to him in the Name of his Son, melodious and delightful muſick, Epheſ. 5.19,20. Making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God, and the Father, in the Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. To raiſe up your thankfulneſs to God for ſparing your houſes and ſubſtance, and not ſuffering them to be deſtroyed by the late dreadful fire: Conſider
1. What a great affliction it is to be deſtitute of an habitation, and of neceſſary food? When David was in a wandering, unſetled condition, he met with ſuch difficulties as made him ſhed many a tear, Pſal. 56.8. Thou telleſt my wanderings, put thou my tears into thy bottle: And when God gave him a ſetled habitation, he dedicates his houſe to God, and reſolves to be thankful all the dayes of his life, Pſal. 30.12. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. This purpoſe of giving thanks for ever, relates to the time that he dedicated his houſe to God, as you may ſee in the title of the Pſalm. When the Iſraelites were deſtitute of an habitation, and were tryed with hunger and thirſt, it was ſuch an affliction as made their ſouls faint within them, Pſal. 107.4,5. They wandered in the Wilderneſs in a ſolitary way, they found no City to dwell in; hungry and thirſty, their ſouls fainted in them. When Jacob was forced to flee from his fathers houſe to avoid his brother Eſau's fury, and knew not what ſtraits he might meet with, he looked upon it as ſuch a great mercy to have food and raiment, that he Covenants with God to become his ſervant, if he would but give him bread to eat, and rayment to put on, Gen. 28.20,21. Jacob vowed a Vow, ſaying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,—then ſhall the Lord be my God. To be ſtricken with hunger, and not to have wherewith to ſatisfie our hunger, is a greater miſery than to be pierced through with a Sword, Lam. 4.9. They that be ſlain with the ſword, are better than they that be ſlain with hunger; for duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page theſe pine away, ſtricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.
2. Conſider how many there are, who lived as plentifully and comfortably as you do, that were as good, or better than you are, that are brought to want and exceeding great ſtraits by the loſſes they have ſuſtained by this Fire. And have not you cauſe to admire Gods goodneſs, and to bleſs him as long as you live, for ſparing you, when ſo many have ſuffered ſo deeply, who yet it may be provoked God leſs than you have done?