(1.) Our sincerity. We have but notions about the comforts of Christianity till we are ca.st into great afflictions. The word of God cometh to us in word only, but then we prove our belief and sense of. it. A gilded potsherd may shine till it cometh to scouring, then the varnish is worn off. When all things are prosperous, and our interest leads us to the profession of religion, the truth of grace is not so much discovered , but in deep troubles it is seen : 2 Cor. vi. 4, ' But in all things approving ourselves the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.' When God searcheth men, and trieth men to the purpose, hirelings become changelings. The stony ground seemed fruitful till the sun did arise with a burning heat, Mat. xiii. 20, 21, and then it withered away , and all that comfort and joy which they formerly had by the word is lost. The blade on the stony ground made as fair a show for awhile as any of the rest, but it had no looting.
(2) Faith is tried : 1 Peter i. 7, ' That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tv'iod with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.' So Abraham was here tried ; so the woman of Canaan was tried, Mat. xv. 25-28. While all things are quiet and comfortable, we live by sense rather than by faitli. As the worth of
Vers. 17-19.] sermons upon" Hebrews xi. 357
<a soldier is not known in times of peace, and wlien lie is out of action. Ad fortiier facieiKlum opus estaliqud renim dijjicultate ; when we are put to some difficulty and strait, then is faith seen ; but we dobut brave it, and word it at other times.
(3.) Our patience, humility, and submission to God are tried. When his mio;hty hand is upon us, then it is seen whether we are content to be what God would have us to be. The devil accused Job for an hypo- crite, and would fain have him put upon this kind of trial: Job i. 9-11, 'Doth Job serve God for nought? Hast thou not made aa hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side ? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his sub- stance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.' It is no wonder to see us without murmuring, when our houses are filled with good things ; or cheerful, while we have increase and plenty — what have we to complain of ? But then is the trial, if we can suppress mur- muring and discontents when God's hand is against us.
(4.) Our ready obedience in the most difficult points of duty. So Abraham was tried here ; and so Moses was tried when God sent him to Pharaoh, Exod. iii. 10.
(5.) Our contempt of earthly things. This is never so much seen as in a patient submission to the loss of them : Heb. x. 24, ' They took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves that they have in heaven a better, and a more enduring substance.^ When a man can take losses not only patiently, but joyfully, as reckoning upon a happiness elsewhere, it is a notable proof how little we set by out- ward things. God's children know not how to judge of their mortifica- tion when they abound in plenty, and all things flow in upon them according to their heart's desire.
(6.) Our dependence and trust in God : Hab. iii. 18. ' Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation ; ' Ps. cxii. 7, ' He shall not be afraid of evil tidings : his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.'
Use. Seeing we must have our trials, let us look for them, and pre- pare for them ; and when they come, see that we discover nothing but what will become obedience and submission to God.
1. Let us look for them, partly that we may not be perplexed at God's dispensation when it cometh : 1 Peter iv. 12, ' Beloved ! think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you' — jjurj ^evi^eaOe. We are amazed and perplexed, as men that meet with some new and strange thing, when God cometh to try us in our sweetest earthly comforts, and to blast that which is dearest to us — as credit, liberty, life. AVe should make these things familiar to us before they come. But, alas ! we are secure when trials are nearest us, as the disciples were astonished when God was about to smite the shepherd and scatter the sheep, Mat. xxvi. 31. We are ready to dream of much worldly ease and comfort : Acts i. 6, ' Lord ! wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel ?' We get a little breathing time from trouble, and promise ourselves perpetual exemption : Ps. xxx. 6, ' In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved ; ' so loth are we to forecast for trials, or to put ourselves