of Jesus Christ and 2. Thes 3.3.4 The Lord is faithful who shall stablish you and keep you from evil Means IV. The last direction I shall give you look to recompence of reward Heb. 11. that made Moses leave all the pleasures of the World the pleasures of sin which were but for a season look to that reward to them that keep close to his commands Psal 84. vers 11. For tht Lord God is a Sun and Shield the Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from those that walk uprightly now what would you have more what can you desire more Walk but uprightly God will never disappoint you you may believe him Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth Temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him I shall conclude all this Exhortation with the Direction and Exhortation of the spirit of God Rev. 2.7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of life and vers the 10. Be faithfull to the death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Oh take notice of the advice given to the Church of Philadelphia Rev. 3.11 Hold fast that thou hast that no man take thy Crown and Rev. 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his Work shall be God will render to every man according to his Workes Rom. 2.7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory honour and immortality eternal life Eternal life should be the end of all our Preaching and your hearing so the Apostle Rom. 10.1 Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved this was the portion of Scripture I first took to discourse upon when I first came amongst you and the desire of my Soul was that your Soules should be saved and I desire still that I and my People may serve the Lord and therefore I wish the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all and the Lord grant that they which love not grace may have grace wrought in their hearts and that you that have grace may grow in grace more and more I wish even your perfection I dare not appeal unto Heaven as Paul Act. 20. but this I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in all judgment 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God that your whole Spirit Soul and Body may be perserved blamless unto the â—omming of our Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 13.20 21. and the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepheard of the Sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father who hath loved us and hath given us Everlasting consolation and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and Work Amen FINIS 1 Pet. 1. vers 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold Temptations THough many Saints have but a small Portion in this World yet there is alotted to them a goodly heritage in another world though they are not filled with the good things of the earth yet they are promised which is better the glory of Heaven though they have but a little in Possession yet they have much in reversion and though many of them be Poore many times as to the things they have in hand ye they are very Rich as to what they have in hope These Saints to whom Peter Writes were Pilgrims and Strangers here on Earth scatttered up and down the World they had no certaine abode no continuing City yet they sougâ—… on that was to come they looked for a City whose Builder and Maker was God Silver and Gold many of them either had none or very little and as to the Possessions of the Earth their Portion was not great Houses and Lands they were either denyed or deprived of they suffered the Spoiling of their goods yet they were begotten to a lively hope unto an inheritance better then this world affords unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for them and that they might know it was not only reserved for them but to be obtained by them the Apostle tells them They should be kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation which now as it was promised them should ere long be manifested ready to be revealed in the last time and the Apostle having shewed what they had hopes of he shews what effect this their hope had upon them namely much joy and Alacrity in the minds of their present Sufferings and Calamities as the words I have read do declare unto you Wherein ye greatly rejoyce c. In which Verse we may Observe First The Christians great Joy Secondly The Christians great Sorrow I. You have here believers great Joy arising from hopes of their future Salvation in these words Wherein you greatly rejoyce II. The Christians or the Saints great Sorrow arising from sense of their present tribulation Ye are in heavyness through manifold temptations Which Heaviness or which Temptations are set forth First By the time of them Secondly By the ground of them I. By the time of them and that is declared in these words Now for a season II. By the ground of them and that is supposed or intimated If need be Wherein you c. Wherein that is in the hopes of Heaven in the hopes of their inheritance in the hopes of the glory of God and that eternal Salvation that was promised to them and expected by them as the 4. and 5. verses do declare Wherein you greatly rejoyce you though others do not yet you rejoyce others do not rejoyce in the hopes of Heaven they have no right to it no hope of it they have no ground to expect it it is not promised to them nor no ground have they to look for it but you that are the elect the chosen the called people of God you that were as elected by the love so sanctified by the Spirit of God 2. ver Wherein that is in hopes of the glory of God you rejoyce you greatly rejoyce you triumph for joy Though now for a season or though now for a little time you are in heaviness or in grief through manyfold temptations troubles and trials you have in the World The words are not difficult they may afford us these six Instructions From hence we might Observe You are in heaviness through manyfold temptations First That the people of God in this world are exercised with manyfold temptations Secondly That the Saints of the most high
STRENGTH MADE PERFECT IN Weakness In Four Sermons Preached By William Hickocks M. A. Quandoquidem nobis denegatur diu vivere relinquamus aliquid quo nos vixisse testemur Sen. LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Three Crowns and Bible at the Lower end of Cheap-side 1674. THE EPISTLE TO THE Reader READER THE worthy Author of these Sermons Mr. William Hickocks was Educated in the Schools of the Prophets and that in an happy time when the envious man was not permitted the Nurseries and Vine-yards to poyson and spoyle them with the Tares of unsound Doctrines and evil Examples and it pleased God to Sanctifie his Liberal and Pious Education that he became not onely a good Christian but also an able Minister not of the Letter but of the Spirit He made the work of his Ministry the work not only of his Head but Heart too shineing with the splendor of Knowledge and Holiness and burning with very Holy Well-grounded Affectionate Zeal giving himself to spend and be spent ready to impart his very soul and all in Delivering and Vrging his great Master's Errand Observing his Spirit as I had frequent opportunity of Converse with him I often thought he savoured too much of the other World to be far from it and so it was indeed His Light was too bright and hot to last his Race too swift and eager to hold he threw himself with strong girds before his feet and soon apprehending the prize left his Body behind Great Labours and Publick as well as Personal deep Resentments exhausted his Spirits and quickly reduced his Body to the dregs of Melancholy so that he was often as Epaphroditus once sick even to death for the work of the Ministry God also early called him forth as David when but a stripling to grapple with Goliah-like Temptations wherein indeed he was Conqueror but yet as Christ with great faintness of Spirit the Lord therefore seeing him weary took him up in his arms and carried him home excusing him his otherwise-remaining travel Oh! how precious had his experiences been had he had Life and Health to acquaint us with them Oh! the depth of the Wisdom and Counsel of God and his ways past finding out that so fruitful a Tree should not be spared that a Vessel of Mercy and Honor so purged and fitted for his Masters use should be dashed in pieces even as soon almost as it was seasoned and broached But yet blessed be God although the Earthen Vessel be broken we have not lost all the Treasure the less it is that is saved the more we should make of it as we carry it towards the Parents of many Children when they leave but one onely little one behind we account it very dear especially if it be like the Parent and truly so is this little Book in thy hand it being a representation of the Consistency of Faith and Doubting Fear and Hope Heaviness and Gladness in one and the same Godly Person whereof the Author was a famous Instance as if this had been his very Temper and Complexion Behold then here one onely little Birth * These Sermons being Published as they were taken in Short-hand something hurt indeed in the coming forth for want of better Midwifry but yet of many resembling the Parent and costing him his very Life Behold Reader I present thee with a taste of the Fruit under the waight whereof the Tree did Bend Break and Fall yet shall we answer at last if we Refuse or Receive so costly Grace in vain Oh! what a sad account shall we have to make if this man of God and the many others which are lately taken from amongst us should be gone to Heaven to complain of our Vnthankfulness Vntractableness Vnfruitfulness Vnsteadfastness c. whereby we have broken their Hearts Good Reader I warn in Paper and Inke and would more gladly do it in Tears if the Lord would please to hear Prayers that we may be Restored to the free Publick Exercise of our Ministry Amen The second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians the second Chapter the sixteenth and seventeenth Verses 16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 17. Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work AS it is the duty of all when they have the Truth made known to them to receive it so much more is it the duty of believers that have received the Truth to hold it fast As we are to buy the Truth so having once bought it never to sell it as we are to lay hold on it so never to let it go as it is our duty to imbrace the Truth so it should be our care never to let it go never to leave it The Apostle having in this Chapter exhorted the Saints to steadfastness to watchfulness and carefulness he presseth his Exhortation from variety of Motives taken partly from the Apostasie of those that are seemingly friends to the Truth partly from the misery of the enemies of the Truth and then again in regard of the holyness they were adorned with and the happiness they should ere long injoy and therefore he repeats his exhortation to stedfastness in the Verse before the Text Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the tradition not of men but of God which you have been taught that is those Doctrines you have received whether from our mouths or writings that is from the Apostles who were infallibly guided by the Holy Ghost And to this Exhortation he adds Supplication in the words now read wherein take notice of four things First The Persons praying Paul Silvanus and Timotheus Secondly The Persons prayed for The Saints of the Church of the Thessalonians Thirdly The Persons prayed too and they are two First God the Son Secondly God the Father The Apostle mentions the Son first no◠that he is so in order of Nature but he 〈◊〉 not curious in placing his words though 〈◊〉 very well knew that God the Father is the first Person in the Trinity God even our Father where we have first his Love asserted who hath loved us Secondly declared and illustrated first in the effects of it and hath given us everlasting consolation and then in the cause of it and good hope through grace Lastly The Petitions themselves or Blessings prayed for and they are two Consolation and Confirmation Consolation comfort your Hearts Confirmation stablish you in every good Word and Work My time is but short the Text is large and therefore I must but only in many things paraphrase upon the Words Now our Lord Jesus Christ Now or first the Apostle here adds this Supplication to his former Exhortation from whence I might note First Doct. I. That the Ministers of the Gospel are not only to Preach to but to pray for the People As they are to speak from God to them so they are to speak for them
or the people of the great God and his peculiar People are sometimes in heaviness through their manyfold temptations Thirdly That the temptations true Christians are exercised withall shall be but for a season Fourthly That there is need why God's People sometimes should be in this heaviness should be exercised through manyfold temptations Fifthly That when Gods people are in heaviness when they are exercised with manifold temptations there is need of them Sixthly That they that fear God should rejoyce in hope of their eternal Salvation though now they be in heaviness through manyfold temptations I shall begin with the first and be but breif in it You are in heaviness through manyfold Temptations manyfold temptations it semes are your portion the Doctrine that lies plain before us is this First That God's people in this World are often under many temptations Many temptations or diverse temptations as the word is elsewhere Translated James 1. vers 2. Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations In opening this truth I shall endeavour very breifly to answer these to Queries First What is meant here by temptations Secondly How it may appeare that the godly are exercised or annoyed by divers temptations or manyfold temptations First What we are to understand by temptations Answer To that I answer this word temptation is taken several ways in Scripture but there are two Sorts of temptations that are especially mentioned in the sacred Word of God there are temptations to evil and temptations by evil temptations are taken either for an allurement unto Sinning or for Chastisement by suffering either for temptations to Sin or temptations to Sorrow Temptations are taken sometimes for temptations unto Sin so in Scripture often to mention but some few places now so we are to understand it in that place in that blessed form of Prayer that may be well used if not abused as too often it is Mat. 6.13 We are taught to pray lead us not into temptation that is lead us not into temptation to Sin and so the Apostles sense is in what he saith 1 Tim. 6. vers 9. They that will be rich fall into temptation they that are resolved they will thrive and prosper in the World whatever comes of it which way soever they get it they fall into temptation that is as the words following explane it into a snare and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts which drown men in perdition and destruction Now in this sense it is true the godly have manifold temptations the best of men are not sometimes without the strongest and greatest temptations temptations unto Sin they are often tempted by the Devil and by the World and by their own Hearts to sin and that in several kinds the Act of sin the Practices of sin the Course of sin they are often tempted to cast of the fear of God and service of God so Job was though he did not harken to and was not overcome by that temptation but of these temptations it is not meant here Secondly As there are temptations to sin so there are temptations to sorrow as there are temptations to doing evil so there are temptations in suffering of evil and so temptations in Scripture are put for crosses and troubles and afflictions that the godly meet with in the world and St. Paul's troubles amongst his enemies the Jewes are called his temptations Acts. 20. vers 19. Serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many teares and temptations which befel me by the laying in wait of the Jewes Many troubles that he met with through that cross and perverse People that he Preached often unto and so the Exhortation of the Apostle James is to be understood James 1. vers 2. My brethen count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations that is not when you are tempted to many sins but when you are afflicted through many troubles though you meet with many crosses in the world yet do not be troubled but rejoyce at it is vers 12. Blessed is the man that endures temptation that is blessed is the man happy is the person that endures Persecutions afflictions for godliness sake for the Gospels sake that is willing to suffer hath a heart to suffer and strength to suffer in the ways and service of God and so the time of temptation in this sense is taken for trouble for the time of Persecution for the time of affliction and so our Saviour opens this Phrasâ— Luke 8.13 vers compare it with Mat. 13.20.21 vers what in the former place in Luke is called temptation in Matthew is called Persecution and Tribulation what one saith when temptation comes the other calls it Tribulation or Persecution arises by and by he is offended and so we are to understand temptations here in the Text manyfold temptations that is manyfold afflictions variety of troubles and Calamities all sorts of crosses which are therefore here called by the name temptation because men are tempted or tried by them they try mens faith and love and obedience they discover their sincerity and integrity So much for the first here what is meant by temptation Secondly How it doth appeare that the godly are exercised with manifold temptations This I might shew by an Induction of particulars by testimony of Scripture and by instances in the several sorts of temptations or troubles that the godly are afflicted with in this World I will speak to one or two take one Testimony of Scripture for it a few places I shall mention Psal 34.19 Many are the afflictions of the Righteous 2 Cor. 4.8 We are troubled on every side Psal 88.3 My soul is full of troubles Psal 25.17 The troubles of my heart are inlarged As soon as ever men begin to be good to lead good lives they are apt to see bad days in some senses Heb. 10.32 After you were illuminated you endured a great fight of afflictions After you were brought to the saving knowledge of God troubles were presently your Portion the cross is the constant companion of the Gospel I might shew further from whence it is from the malice of the Devil the rage of wicked men the sins of our own hearts the wise providence the merciful providence of the good God towards his people they have troubles and temptations in all kinds of out ward man of inward man in friends in enemies in their persons in their relations possessions what ever they have that is neare and deare to them but I cannot stand on â—…iculars let me only mention one that â—…e temptation that the Text mentions and that is the temptations that happen to the Saints here through Persecution for those whom the Apostle writes to 1 Pet. 1. they were scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia driven up and down for the Gospels sake to save themselves from the hand of wicked men and amongst many temptations this is one the temptation of Persecution this is the common temptation of the
the cause but only occasion through some mens imbracing of it whom God gives grace to and others rejecting and opposing of it it doth occasion divisions amongst those that are naturally most united there is a caution given Jer. 9.4 take ye heed every one of his neighbour and trust ye not in any brother for every brother will utterly supplant and every neighbor will walk with slanders i. e. raise false reports of you and bring you to suffer unjustly though every brother and every neighbour will not yet many neighbours and many relations will do so That 's one great temptation that the people of God have in reference to wicked mens persons Secondly In regard of Sathans temptations they have many troubles too For those whom Sathan knows he cannot destroy for ever he will do what he can to disturb here and though he cannot destroy them yet he will afright them here Temptations of troubles are the portion of God's people in this world Vse The meditation or thought of this truth may be useful both to those that are in a prosperous and them that are in a suffering Condition If God's people be under many troubles many temptations in this world then you that fear God and yet prosper let the consideration of this stir you up to a two-fold duty First To expect troubles to expect temptations how ever you flourish in your out ward man yet do not think prosperity will always last While God blesses his people with comfort and mercy bless him and praise him but look for an alteration expect a change They that at present enjoy their ease and safety and liberty and have many comforts and delights in the world O use the world but do not abuse it in those blessings God gives you but rejoyce as though you rejoyced not remembring it will not be always thus with you Think upon this truth temptations and trials will befall you sooner or later troubles will be all our portion remember the daies of darkness are a coming the time of suffering will come before we go out of this world Saith Christ in the World you shall have trouble but in me you shall have peace Though hitherto many of God's people may have met with no considerable temptations yet they may have their share of them they may have many of them let not those that are in a prosperous Condition in any respect let them not always expect Halcyon days the clouds may soon gather a storm may come before we are aware and trouble is many times nearest when we think it furthest off Secondly As we should expect temptation and expect trouble so let us prepare for trouble Get your selves furnished with those graces that may sure your conditions that you may not be overcome by temptation O pray get a stock of holiness that may stand you in stead in the evil day and in the hour of temptation O be not without faith and meekness c. that we shall have so much need of in the time of trouble The Scripture tells that we are pilgrims and strangers here on earth as all the godly were in all times we have a long journey to take from Earth to Heaven we must pass through the Sea of this World and the Winds will blow O let us be prepared against a storm for we must meet with fowl weather Acts. 20.22.23 Paul tells the Elders of the Church of Ephesus behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there only one thing he knew Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me What success I shall have in Preaching I cannot tell or what other things may happen but I am sure to meet with troubles here and why should we expect otherwise then this good man did Now we had need be prepared against them for in every place we are like to find them Secondly Let them that suffer in the world take heed of rash judging themselves let no Person think that his case is bad because his condition is sad let no Person think he his none of God's people because he meets with so many troubles you saith the Apostle are in heaviness through manyfold temptations Let us not think that God doth not love us because he doth afflict us Paul was a pretious servant of Jesus Christ one that knew Jesus Christ and loved him and yet afflictions and troubles every where were his portion Heb. 12.7 If you endure Chastisements God deals with you as sons for what son is he whom the Father Chastens not It is not a sign of the hatred but of the love of God whom the Lord loves he Chastens and whatever troubles we may meet withal in this world 1 Pet. 5.9 remember this the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren in the world Secondly You are in heaviness through manyfold Temptations not only have them but you are sensible of them from whence the Doctrin is Observe That the Saints may be in heaviness through their manyfold temptations You are in heaviness or you are sadned you are grieved God's people may have their spirits much sadned through the variety of troubles they meet with in the world The word in the Text you are in Heaviness or you are sadned comes from a word that signifies such grief as brings tears into the eyes such a grief as is expressed by weeping you are those that even cry your grief is such that causes tears I the thought of the great troubles you meet with hath such sorrow and grief not only the troubles of the soul but the troubles that God's people meet with in the world they much sadden their spirits and much grive their hearts Psal 6 6 7. David speaks of his Temptations saith he I am weary with my groaning all the Night make I my Bed to swim I water my Couch with my tears day and night he was full of griefe full of weeping Myne eye is consumed beeause of grief it waxeth old because of all my enemies not only the troubles that he had as to his Soul the thought of his sins but the troubles of the world did much affect him Psal 38.6 I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long 8. vers I am feeble and sore broken I have roar'd by reason of the disquietness of my heart And so the Church Lam 1.16 the Church having spoken of her misery what a sad case she was in in the world saith she For these things I weep myne eye runneth down with water because the comforter that should relieve my Soul is far from me and how great the trouble was that was then the Churches portion the whole book of Lamentations verifies Grace doth not make people insensible they whose hearts are sanctified may lay to heart their troubles Though grace doth correct and abate mens passions and rectify nature yet it doth not destroy nature or
by the hand of Saul and yet Saul died and he lived Gods people I say manytimes they are delivered in this World out of eminent dangers though great though long troubles though soar and though lasting yet they are not everlasting they do not continue as long as their days continue Many have been under great temptations soar persecution and yet have outlived their persecutors David did Saul and Paul did even when they were past hopes 2 Cor. 1.9 10. vers We were pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that we despaired even of life but we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead Who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us and he tells Timothy 2 Tim. 3.10 11. vers of the great troubles and persecutions that came to him but out of them all the Lord delivered him and so in the same Epistle 2 Tim. 4.16 17. ver when he was brought before Nero all men forsook me yet God did not forsake me the Lord stood with me and strengthened me and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lyon though he was very near unto death yet his life was preserved God did make with that soar temptation a way to escape The troubles of Gods people shall be but for a season sometimes they are but for a season in this life Secondly At the most they shall be but for the season of this life they shall last no longer so one Paraphrases upon the words they are but for a season as long as this short life lasts so long you may be afflicted if there be occasion for it but then there is an end of all 2 Cor. 4.17 vers Our light affliction which is but for a season but for a moment it shall not be hereafter it shall be but here while the moment of this life lasts then it vanishes away when our lives go if we fear God all our troubles will go away with them there is a time for every thing this present time is the time of the Saints afflictions the time that Gods people suffer this is the time of temptation of all that fear God when this life is at an end afflictions will be out of season there will be none of them when this life ends the suffering of the godly will then be at an end death puts a period to all their troubles they continue but while they have their abode in this earthly tabernacle no longer shall any cross or affliction be their portion Revel 14.13 vers Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Blessed are they though they seem the most cursed of any people in some respects while they live yet blessed are they when they dye for they rest from their labours that is though not from their labour of service and love to God and his people yet from their labour of sorrow they shall then have no burden of persecution or affliction to bear as no evil shall be done by them so no evil then shall be suffered by them as they shall not know what sin means in another World so neither shall they understand what sorrow means weeping and wailing all tears then shall be wiped from their faces and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads no disturbance of Spirit shall be the Saints lot in another World no evil work nor work of iniquity shall ever follow them mens Pesecutors may follow them to the grave but then they must leave them then your bodies shall go into your graves in peace and your souls shall go to God that gave them to the Spirits of just men made perfect that are without sin and without suffering that are for ever serving God and continually injoying God In Gods presence where Gods people shall be after this World there is no part of their lives that is imbittered to them there is fulness of joy and their is pleasure for evermore at Gods right hand it is not only some little comfort is given them aâ—… this World to bear up their Spirits but there the joy shall be everlasting pleasure for evermore O well may believers say as God by the Prophet Say you to the righteous it shall be well with him though it be very ill with him whiles he lives yet it shall be well with him when he dyes his troubles he shall see they were but for a season though he may have many inconveniences in his earthly tabernacle yet he shall find nothing of dislike when he comes to Gods everlasting habitation Secondly Why is it so Why shall the temptations of the Godly be but for a season Why shall their affliction not last allways I will give you a two fold account of it I. Because of the mercifulness of God he is a God of tender mercy he compassionates all his creatures in all respects but much more them who are not only the work of his hands but the delight of his heart as all that fear and love him are he hath great kindness for them and this account is given why the Lord will not always chide his people he is a merciful God Psal 103.8 9. vers The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and then it follows he will not always chide neither will he keep his anger for ever angry he may be with his children when they are faulty and disobedient But he will not keep his anger forever Why the verses following declare Like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him for he knows our frame he remembers we are but dust God knows what frail creatures his people are and though some chiding they may bear yet his frowns they are not able to undergo that is the reason God gives why he would not shew himself always displeased with his people he should break their hearts with such thoughts Isa 57.16 17. vers I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth why for the Spirit should fail before me and the Soul which I have made the very heart of Gods people would be broken with a long continuance of their troubles and therefore he will in wrath remember mercy as it follows For the iniquity of his covetuousness was I wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners I know that he is not able always to bear my afflicting hand I will take it of it shall be but a little while the rod is upon his back but it shall not rest there I will manifest my love again to him Isa 54.7 8. vers For a
that will not be long for as the Apostle speaks What is your life it is even as a vapour that soon passeth away if always afflicted whilest thou livest remember the time is hastning that thou shalt dye and then no longer disturbed this saddens thy Spirit that so long thy condition hath been uncomfortable let this support thee thou shalt not be for ever miserable Psal 68.13 ver Though ye have lien among the pots yet shall ye be as the wings of a Dove covered with Silver and her feathers with yellow Gold though you have been in this afflicted and uncomfortable estate yet the time of joy and prosperity is coming to you remember that temptations may be sore and great and may seem to be long yet they will be but for a time they will not last always these clouds will be blown over after rain will come Sun-shine though the Lord hide his face for a moment weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning I may say to many of us let our troubles be what they will those that believe in God and endeavour faithfully to serve him to them is alotted the more troubles If we have lived but any considerable time in the World I may say to you that are elder as the Apostle saith in another case The night is far spent the night of your sorrow is almost at an end the day of the resurrection a coming that day of gladness when you shall not know what affliction means when Pharaoh asked Jacob how old he was he tells him and afterwards saith he Few and evil have been the days of my life If the days of our life be evil let this comfort us they are but few they shall be few you know the life of man it is not many years many of us have out-lived most of those years it will be â—ut for a season the time is coming all these sorrows and miseries will be out of season The length of a trouble doth greaten it though it be small in it self a little burden carryed a great way is great and so the shortness of a trouble doth much lessen it though our troubles be great yet remember they shall not last always they shall be but for a season Lift up therefore the hands that hang down and the feeble knees I may say as the Apostle doth Fourthly If need be saith the Apostle you are in heaviness through manifold temptations If need be why then this is implied that sometimes there is need you should have temptations there is a necessity for it from whence the Doctrine is this Doct. I. That there is need sometimes why the people of God the faithful people of God should be under manifold temptations should be afflicted in the World As distempered bodies need Physick as well as food so Souls that are distempered with sin need afflicting providences as well as holy Ordinances Gods own children are not such but sometimes they need the rod as well as the Word they need affliction as well as Instruction there is need if need be there is sometimes a necessity in the ordinary way of Gods providence why Gods people should be under trouble Quest If any should ask what need there is I thought to have Answered it in these twelve Particulars but I will only speak to some few of them First There is need why Gods people should be afflicted or tempted to discover the truth of their graces there is need therefore of affliction that they may be made to appear what indeed they are times of trouble are times of tryal and thence it is that afflictions are in this verse called by the name of temptations Through manifold temptations that is through manifold troubles and trials or through diverse trials diverse troubles I say afflictions are here and so often elsewhere called temptations because they try what people are Psal 66.10 ver Thou O God hast proved us thou hast tried us as Silver is tried How were they tried how by affliction by the troubles they met with in the World as the 11. ver shews Thou broughtest us into the net thou layest affliction upon our loyns thou hast tried us that is by these afflictions thou hast tried us as mettals are tried by the fire so are Gods people in the furnace of affliction 1 Pet. 1.7 ver That the trial of your faith being much more pretious then of Gold that perishes though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ These temptations are for your trial Job 23.20 ver Job speaking to God saith He knows the way that I take and when he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold When he hath tried me how is that why that is by the trials he sends me he discovers what I am then I shall come forth as Gold by troubles and crosses in the World he tries his people he tries their faith in him and their love to him he discovers their sincerity Quest But what need of these trials I may Answer Negatively and Affirmatively I. Negatively God need not try us by troubles for he knows what we are he knows what we are before he afflicts us and what we shall be when we are afflicted thou understandest my thoughts a far of God is fully acquainted with all our ways not only the ways that we have gone in but the ways that we will go God can tell when we prosper what we shall do when we come to suffer he understands our thoughts a far of God can tell when we are in flourishing condition whether we shall flinch from his Service when it is like to bring us to suffering The heart is deceitful above all things and yet I the Lord search the heart and try the reins Though man doth not know his own heart how he shall carry himself in a time of suffering yet God knows it 2 King 8.12 13. ver God could tell when Haziel was a Subject what he should do when he was a King he could tell what a bloody cruel man he should be God could tell who should be his peoples Persecutors long before they knew it they are not needful in reference to God Joh. 2.23 24. vers Jesus Christ it is said there of him Many believed in his Name when they saw the miracles that he did But Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man it is spoken of him as he was God God doth not need to send troubles to discover to him what we are God knows us before hand II. But Affirmatively God seeth it requisite to discover to our selves and to discover to others what we are and in these two respects there is need of temptations for the trial of Gods people and sometimes they are a means to discover us to our selves sometimes to others Sometimes to our selves