Use 2. Let us prepare for such a time ; for none of us can promise ourselves a total exemption from such kind of providences.
But what ])reparations must we make ?
I answer — Stock the heart with some maxims or holy truths, which may be a support to you.
1. That in our darkest condition God seeth us, though we do not see him. So the psalmist found by experience : Ps. Ixxiii. 22, 23, ' So
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foolish was I, and ignorant ; I was as a beast before thee : neverthe- less I am continually with thee ; thou hast holden me by the right hand.' David could not see God, for he had brutish thoughts of providence, as he acknowledgeth there ; that God was indifferent to good and evil, did no more care for the one than for the other ; yet God took care of him, and held him in the arms of his providence when he questioned it. So Job xxiii. 8-10, ' Behold, I go forward, but he is not there ; and backward, but I cannot perceive him : on the left hand, where he doUi work, but I cannot behold him : he hidetli himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him. But he knoweth the way that I take : when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.' Job had lost the sight of God, but God had not lost the sight of Job, for he knew his sincerity, and would in time clear it to his comfort. So that many times we are like the blind man ; though he could not see Christ, yet he never left calling upon the Son of David, till he answered to his name, and came and cured him.
2. That in our distresses we are apt to foster groundless mistakes about God's love, and so darken our own estate more than needeth. Sense maketh lies of God, and our hearts will be made to recant what they say in their haste, as David often found in his experience : Ps. xxxi. 22, ' I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes ; nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.' God looketh hot after me, but leaveth me to inevitable ruin ; and at that very time God was about to give him audience : Ps. cxvi. 10-12, ' I was greatly afflicted : I said in my haste, All men are liars. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me ? ' He referreth to the messages brought him from godly Samuel, and Kathan, and other prophets ; and being far from the effects of them, he began to suspect the truth of them. Thus do our calamities trans- port us with fears and irregular thoughts and apprehensions of God's dealings with us: but we must not judge of our condition by our temptations, but God's promises ; and faith must shut our eyes against whatsoever would breed mistakes and quarrels against God's provi- dence.
3. That a dark hour is many times the forerunner of a comfortable morning, and great and growing difficulties may be made means of a greater good to us. For God loveth to bring light out of darkness, and to give the valley of Achor for a door of hope, and to give meat out of the eater, and sweetness out of the strong, and to bring about his people's mercies by means very improbable and contrary, that he may train us up to hope against hope. Deliverance, when it is a-coming, it is not always in sight ; rather all appearances are contrary. He will call for water when he intendeth to give wine, and rebuke her as a dog whom he meaneth to treat as a daughter of Abraham : Isa. xlv. 15, ' Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, 0 God of Israel, the saviour.' Though a saviour, yet he hideth himself under a cloud and veil of difficulties and contrary appearances.
4. That however matters go, it will certainly be well with them that fear God, even because they fear him, were there no other evidence and proof of it, as it will be ill with the wicked, even thougli they prosper: Eccles. viii. 11, 12, 'Because sentence against an evil
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work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged ; yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him ; ' Isa. iii. 10, 11, ' Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked I it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him.' If this be believed, we need fear nothing, if we keep the way of the Lord, and do continue waiting and depending upon him. We cannot absolutely promise you temporal deliverance, nor all those spiritual things which you desire, as to the degree ; but this we can promise you, it shall be well with them that fear God, and well with the righteous. Temporal things are not of that moment that we should be much troubled about them ; we have an hope above them, and our happiness lieth not at stake when they are in danger. If God will bring us safe to glory, as he will those that continue with patience in well-doing, it is enough ; nothing can go amiss to him that is found in the way of his duty : though the way be foul and narrow, if it kadeth unto glory, it is enough ; it will be well in the issue.