por^, and of his wisdom, in the marvellous ways of their escape and (Liiverance. It is one of the greatest wonders in the world, how the church subsists under such fierce and frequent assaults as are made upon it by enemies. " I will turn aside (said Moses) and see this " great sight, why the bush is not consumed," Exod. iii. 3. That flaming bush was a lively emblem of the oppressed church in Egypt ; the crackling flames noted the heat of their persecution, the remain-^ ing of the bush unconsumed in the flames, signified the wonderful power of God in their preservation : No people are so privileged, so protected, so delivered, as the people of God. Much less opposition than hath been made against the church, have overturned, and utter- ly destroyed, the mighty monarchies of the world.
Assijrio^ Medoque tidit moderamina PerseSy Suhjecit Per sen Macedo, cessurus et ipse Roviams
' Assyria's empire thus the Mede did shake, ' The Persian next, the pride of Media brake ; 'Then Persia sunk by Macedonia prest, ' That, in its turn, fell by Rome at last.'
And no less admirable is the wisdom of God, in frustrating and de- feating the most deep and desperate designs of hell, against his poor people. Now, you may see the most wise God going beyond a ma- licious and subtle devil, overturning in a moment the deep laid de- signs and contrivances of many years, and that at the very birth and point of execution, Esth. vi. 1. snaring the wicked in the works of their own hands ; making their own tongues to fall upon them ; "working out such marvellous salvations with his own hand, as fills them with astonishment and wonder, Psal. cxxvi. 7. " When the " Lord turned back the captivity of Zion, we were like them that '•' dreamed.''
Secondly, As God provides for his own glory, by the sufferings and troubles of his people ; so he advanceth their happiness, and greatly promotes their interest thereby.
For, First, These troubles are ordered as so many occasions and means to mortify the corruptions that are in their hearts ; there are rank weeds springing up in the best soil, which need such winter weather to rot them : And, certainly, if we reckon humility, hea- venly mindedness, contempt of the world, and longing desires after heaven, to be the real interest and advantage of the church ; tlien it is evident, nothing so much promotes their interest, as a suff'cring condition doth : Adversity kills those corruptions which prosperity bred.
♦ Claudian, lib, 3. in laudes StUUcones.
THE BEST WOKK IN THE WORST TIMES.
Secondly, By these trials their sincerity is cleared, to the joy al satisfaction of their own hearts ; many a doubt and fear, which hi long entangled and perplexed them, is removed and answered. When adversity hath given them proof, and trial of their own hearts, one sharp trial wherein God helps us to be faithful, will do more to satis- fy our fears, and resolve our doubts, than all the sermons that ever we heard in our lives could do.
Thirdly, These sufferings and trials of the church, are ordained to free it of abundance of hypocrites, which were its reproach, as well as burden, Amos ix. 9, 10. Affliction is a furnace to separate the dross from the more pure and noble gold. Multitudes of hypocrites, like flies in a hot summer, are generated by the church's prosperity ; but this winter weather kills them: Many gaudy professors grow within the inclosure of the church, like beautiful flowers in the field, where they stand during its peace and prosperity, in the pride and bravery of their giftsand professions; but the wind passethover them, and they are gone, and their places shall know them no more ; to allude to that in Psalm ciii. 16. Thunder and lightning is very ter- rible weather, but exceeding useful to purify and cleanse the air.
Fourthly, The church's sufi^erings are ordered and sanctified, to endear them to each other. Times of common suffering, are times of reconciliation, and greater endearments among the people of God ; never m^ore endeared, than when most persecuted ; never more unit- ed, than when most scattered, Mai. iii. 17. " Then they that fear- " ed the Lord, spake often one to another." Certainly there is some- thing in our fellowship in the same sufferings, that is endearing and engaging ; but there is much more in the discoveries that persecution makes of the sincerity of our hearts, which, it may be, was before entertained with jealousy ; and there is yet more than all this in the reproofs of the rod, whereby they are humbled for their pride, wantonness, and bitterness of their spirits to each other, and made to cry, in the sense of these transgressions, as Psal. Ixx. 8. " Remem- " ber not against us former iniquities."
Lastly, By these troubles and distresses, they are awakened to their duties, and taught to pray more frequently, spiritually, and fervent- ly. Ah ! what drowsmess and formality is apt to creep irrupon the best hearts, in the time of prosperity ; but when the storm rises, and the sea grows turbulent and raging, now they cry as the disciples to Christ, Lord, save us, we perisli. They say music is sweetest upon the waters; I am sure the sweetest melody of prayer is upon the deep waters of affliction : For these, among many other righteous, wise, and holy ends, the Lord permits and orders the persecutions and distresses of his people.
3jg PREPARATIONS FOa SUFFEIIIXGS : OR,
Shexvs that it is usual with God to premonish his people of approach^ i??o' trials and sufferings ; with some account of' the manner hozv^ and the reason why he so forewarns them.
J^.S Paul had many clear premonitions and fore-notices of the sufferings that should befal him at Jerusaleni, that he might not be surprized by them when they came; so it is usual with God (though not in such an immediate and extraordinary a manner) to admonish the world, and especially his own people, of great trials and sufferings before-hand. Amos iii. 7. " Surely the Lord will " do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the pro- « phets.''
Thus, when he was about to bring the flood upon the world, he gave one hundred and twenty years warning of it before it came. Gen. vi. 3. and when he was to destroy Sodom, he saith, Gen. xviii. 17. " Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I do ?" And the like discovery he made about the same judgment to Lot, Gen. xix. 12, 13, 14. So when the captivity of the Jews was nigh at hand, the people had many fore warnings of it ; God forewarned them both ministerialhj and providentially ; he warned them by the prophets, Ezek. iii. 17. " Hear the word of my mouth, and give them warning <« from me.'' And when the time drew nigh to execute the judg- ment determined upon Jerusalem, and the temple, how plainly did Christ foretel them of it ? Luke xix. 43, 44. " Thine enemies shall " cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee " in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy " children within thee."