The Chequer-Work of Gods Providences

Doctrine I.

That, Sometimes God's Israel, God's own endeared People, may lie, as it were among the Pots, in deepest Distresses and Afflictions.

This Doctrinal Lesson is evidently fluent from the first Branch of the Text. For Unfolding and Improving whereof, I shall chiefly Manifest. 1. That, God's People being in deep Distress and Afflictions, is like lying among the Pots. 2. Why God suffers his Church and dearest People sometimes thus to lie as among the Pots, in deepest distresses and tribulations. 3. What Inferences may readily result here upon.

I. That, The lying of God's endeared People in deepest Distresses and Afflictions, is like lying among the Pots. For,

1. They that lie among the Pots are in a very low, mean and abject condition; Scullions, of the meanest rank, are wont in the Camp or Leaguer to lie among the Pots: So they, that are in deep Distresses and Afflictions, are in a very low, mean, and abject state, in the eye of the world. Israel, in affliction, was in a very low condition: —who remembered us in our low estate. Low in Egypt; when they toiled in the clay, and must make brick without straw. Low at the Read-Sea: when nothing but present death was before their eyes; Egyptians being behind them, the Sea before them, and mountains on each hand. Low in the Wilderness; when they had neither bread to eat, nor water to drink, &c. Low in the Land of Canaan: when they were delivered into their enemies hands, which swarmed about them like Bees; yea when the Ark of God was taken from them, yea when Saul and Jonathan were destroyed. Low in Babylon: when they were visibly as helpless and hopeless as people dead and buried in their very Graves. Thus, Joseph was very low in his Affliction: when he was clapt up in Prison in Egypt, and laid in Irons, having not one friend in all Egypt to help him out. Job very low: when smitten with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown, so that he scraped himself with a pot heard, and sat down among the ashes. David very low: when he, in fear of his life, changed his behavior, feigning himself mad before Achish King of Gath: and when he fled from Absalom his son, going up Mount Olivet barefoot, weeping and having his head covered, &c. Jonah very low; when he was as it were twice buried, once in the Sea, and again in the belly of the Whale, and the weeds were wrapped about his head. And Lazarus extremely low: when he lay hunger-bitten, full of sores and ulcers at the rich-man's gate, desiring his crumbs, which none gave unto him, the dogs coming and licking his sores.

2. They that lie among the Pots are apt to be spotted, fullyed, fouled, blacked with the Pots: So they that are in deep affliction and distress are rendered in the eyes of others, deformed, sullied, black, tanned, Sun-burnt, &c. Distressed Job said: My skin is black upon me. The afflicted Church confesseth; I am black,—as the Tents of Kedar: Even as the black-hair-clothe-weather-beaten-Tents of Kedar. And again; Look not upon me because I am black, because the Sun hath looked upon me. Great afflictions make the very Church herself black, or blackish, and Sun-burnt; how much more her particular members. Thus Jeremiah lamented; Our skin was black like an Oven, because of the terrible famine, Lam. 5. 10. The Nazarites visage is blacker then a coal, &c. Lam. 4. 7, 8. yea our blessed Savior JESUS CHRIST himself was in his comeliness deformed and marred extraordinarily by his sore afflictions and sufferings; His visage was so marred more then any man, and his form more then the sons of men.—He hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3. They that lie among the Pots, being deformed, sullyed and blacked, are wont to be slighted, despised, abhorred, men look strange at them, are ashamed of their company, cannot abide to come near them: So they that lie in deep distress and misery, are usually neglected, despised and rejected of others; yea ofttimes their very kindred, friends and familiar acquaintance are estranged from them, and stand aloof from their calamity. Thus Job in his extreme afflictions complained; — He hath put my Brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no Answer; I entreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife: though I entreated for the children's sake of mine own body. Yea young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. All mine inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. Thus Heman the Ezrahite in his sad afflictions lamenteth; Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. And, though our blessed Savior bear, not his own, but our griefs and our sorrows, yet even for them he was exposed to extreme contempt; He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him: he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Oh how hard a thing is it for the dearest of God's Saints to be deeply distressed, and not to be greatly despised!

II. But, Why is it, that the LORD suffers his Church and his own endeared People, thus to lie sometimes, as among the Pots, in deepest distresses and tribulations?

The LORD Permits, Orders, Directs and Over-powers the sharp afflictions and distresses of his own dear people for their Manifold Benefit. He lets them lie among the Pots, then even this may turn to their and co-operate for their good, for their manifold good. For,

1. By these, The sins and failings of God's people are more clearly detected. He with-draweth not his eyes from the righteous: — And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction: Then he showeth them their work, and their transgressions, that they have exceeded. The distress of Josephs Brethren in Egypt, revived afresh upon their consciences, their old offenses against Joseph; Afflictions awaken their sleepy souls and drowsy consciences. As the Suns Ecclipse is best discerned in water: Or as Blots run most abroad in wet paper: so their sinful blots and ecclipses are most evidently discovered in their waters of affliction.

2. By these, They are more thoroughly melted and humbled for their sinful failings discovered. The fire melts the mettle in the furnace, that it will run into any mould. When wrath was upon good Hezekiah for the Pride and lifting up of his heart, how quickly did he humble himself under the hand of God! That Phoenix King Josiah exceedingly melted and wept before the LORD, when he discerned the Judgments of God but hanging over their heads for sin, in the clouds of the threatenings.

3. By these, their spots, stains and sins, Detected and Lamented, are very notably cleansed, rubbed out, and purged away, By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his sin. Dav • d himself acknowledged this advantage by his Afflictions; Before I was afflicted I went astray: B • t now have I kept they word. So true is that of Elihu to Job; Then he openeth their ear to Discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. Our afflictions do launce out out corruption; Scour away our spots and stains; File off our rust and canker; Fan away our chaff; Segregate our Dross; And, like the Fiery furnace, burn off the bands and cords of our corruptions, that we may walk at liberty. Even Manasseh, that Monster of wickedness) when taken among the thorns, and bound in fetters, &c. repented and reformed, 2 Chron. 33. 1. to 20.

4. By these, Their graces are Tryed and Proved, whether they be sincere; Not that God doth not know what is in us: but that we do not know what is in ourselves. Think it not strange concerning the fiery Trial, which is to Try you. — That the trial of your Faith being much more precious then of Gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory. Some writings cannot be read but at the fire or in the water. So some gracious endowments and inscriptions on our hearts, as Faith, Patience, Self-denial, &c. cannot so well be discerned as in the fire and water of Tribulations. The Furnace tries the Mettal; The Touch-stone tries the Gold; The Storm tries the Pilot; The Battle tries the Soldier: So the Furnace, Touch-stone, Storm and Battle of Afflictions try the Faith, Patience, Courage, Constancy and Graces of the Christian. Our true spiritual Beauty becomes the more Beauteous by this washing, when thereby paint and counterfeit colors are wiped away.

5. By these, Their Graces and Spirituals are much advanced and improved. As the body by a Growing Ague, or as the grass by an April • shower. Tribulation worketh Patience, and Patience Experience, and Experience Hope, and Hope makes not ashamed, &c. What a rich and strange crop is this! Heres Grapes on Thorns, and Figs on Thistles. By rubbing, the Pomander smells far sweeter: By treading, the Camomile grows the better; by wearing, the nail becomes the brighter: So ou Spirituals become more bright, fragrant and flourishing, by being exercised with Afflictions. Opposition and Difficulties excite their Activities. Had not the Afflictions of Job been so extreme, the Integrity and Patience of Job had not been so renowned.

6. By these, Their Spiritual Activity in Meditations Prayer, Self-examinations, Self-denial, Obedience and all Christian Duties, is exceedingly actuated and awakened. When Jacob was in fear and danger of Destruction by his Brother Esau, he wrestled all night by Prayer with the Angel of the Covenant, and would not let him go without a Blessing. While David was exercised under Saul's oppressive persecutions, and other sad afflictions; he breathed out to God his most Celestial Devotions. Then he said, Its good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes. When David was lowest in Affliction, he was highest in Devotion. Yea, Jesus Christ himself, being in an Agony, Prayed the more earnestly. As the Birds in the Spring tune most sweetly, when it rains most sadly; Or, As a musical Instrument, when the strings are struck, sounds most melodiously: So when God rains down troubles upon us, and by his chastisements strikes the very strings of our hearts, oft times our spirits make the sweetest melody in the ears of God.

7. By these, They are Conform to Jesus Christ their Head and Elder Brother, who was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, and perfected, or consecrated through sufferings. And if we suffer with him, we shall be glorified together. If now we be conform to him in his Cross, we shall hereafter be conform to him in his Crown. Its the Perfection of the Members to be conform unto their Head.

8. By these, These childlike Relation to the heavenly Father is sweetly Ascertained, while they are enabled to bear and endure his chastisements with filial patience and submission. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons: for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partaker • , then are ye bastards and not sons. The heavenly Father will take pains with his own children to chastise, discipline and nurture them for their good; when he will not wear his rods upon Bastards and Castawaies. And how useful is that his Paternal Affliction, which discries his Fatherly affection unto us, and our Son-like Relation unto him! I am well contented to be under the Rod of the Almighty; that so I may be distinguished from the Bastards of this world, and numbered among the sons of God.

9. By these, They are chastened of the Lord, that they should not be condemned with the world. And thats an happy Castigation, that helps to prevent Eternal Condemnation. Who would not say with him? Here burn me, here cut me, that thou mayest forever spare me.

10. Finally, By these sharp afflictions and distresses, God fits and prepares his afflicted servants for their Eternal Glory. Christ was first Abased before he was exalted: and passed by his Cross, unto his Crown; through his Sufferings, into his Glory And his members must follow him: Through muc • tribulation we must enter to the Kingdom of God. We shall meet with Tribulation, much Tribulation; that's the wa • we must go: but through this much tribulation we must Enter into the Kingdom of God, thats the blessed end of this way. If it were, Tribulation, and much Tribulation, and after that no entrance into heaven; that were the tribulation of tribulation, a doleful way to a more doleful journeys end: but in that through this tribulation, yea through this much tribulation, we shall at last enter into a Kingdom, and that the Kingdom of God: This renders all our much tribulation, as in effect no tribulation at all. And, The momentary lightness of our affliction worketh for us a far more exceeding (Gr. from Hyperbole to Hyperbole; or an Hyperbolical Hyperbolical) eternal weight of glory. Our Afflictions work this transcendent glory for us, by working and disposing us for this transcendent glory. And the sharper are our sorrows here, the sweeter will be our joys hereafter. As health is most acceptable after the sharpest sickness: liberty most sweet after rigorous bondage: rest most delightful after toylsom weariness: and the harbor most welcome after the sorest storms: So heaven and glory itself will be most grateful and glorious after sharpest afflicting extremities. Thus of the Causes why the Lord suffers his, To lie among the Pots.

III. Inferences or Corollaries, Hence resulting are divers. As,

1. Hence, Behold here the mystery and wisdom of God's Providential Dispensations. His own people, (though his Jewels ) shall lie among the Pots, and be most sadly afflicted: when the wicked shall flourish like a green Bay-tree, in all Prosperity. This strange Dispensation of God's Providence did exceedingly puzzle and perplex holy David, till he went into the Sanctuary of God; then he saw the end of those wicked prosperous men, that they were set in slippery places, — that they are brought into desolation, as in a moment, &c. Godly Lazarus lay full of sores, among the dogs at the rich man's gate, Destitute of his very crumbs to satisfy his hunger: while the wicked rich man was in his Purple and fine linen, and sured sumptuously every day. Assuredly, Then,

(1) No man knows God's Peculiar love or hatred by these External Dispensations: by all that is before him.

(2) Happiness or Misery consists not, In having or wanting of these outward blessings: Nor in escaping, or enduring the sharpest sorrows or afflictions.

2. Hence, Saddest Extremities of Ou • ward Afflictions and miseries in this present If, are not inconsistent with the gracious condition of God▪ own People. Yea, most usually God's own people in this world are of all other the most afflicted, when as others enjoy the Pleasutes of sin for a season. O what extremities of sufferings and deaths have the faithful undergone in all ages! Consult that little Book of Martyrs in the Epistle to the Hebrews, They were tortured not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better Resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned: they were sawn asunder: were tempted: were stain with the sword: they wandered about in Sheep-ski • s, a • d Goats-skins, being destitu • e▪ afflicted, tormented. Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in Desarts, and in Mountains, and in Dens and Caves of the earth.

Oh what strange Similitudes, Emblems and Expressions are used in Holy Scripture for representing of God's people's calamities! As,

A smoking furnace: to denote the affliction of Abraham's seed in Egypt.

A Bush burning with fire, all on a light flame.: to express Israel's former and future sharp and fiery calamities.

Their Souls being bowed down to the dust, and their bellies cleaving to the earth.

Their being sore broken in the place of Dragons, and covered with the shadow of death.

Yea the Jews in Babylon's captivity, said; Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost, we are cut off for our Parts. And they were as so many dead bodies that were buried in their very Graves. And therefore extremity of distress in this present life, is not only consistent with, but very incident unto, the sincerest heirs by grace of the life to come.

3. Hence, Let Christians learn patiently and contentedly to bear their heavyest pressures and afflictions, since no temptation hath befallen them, but what is human, 1 Cor. 10. 13. Yea sometimes it is the lot of the Church of God, and of 〈…〉 , to lie even among the blackest Pots. Seest thou, Joseph laid in Irons; Job sitting in the ashes; Lazarus, lying among the dogs, full of sores; and Jesus Christ himself so full of sorrows: and dost thou think much at thine affliction? Oh fret not against God's dispensations, faint not, but endure thy tribulations: since Jesus Christ himself, and his choicest members are therein thy companions.

4. Hence, How unsafe and imprudent is it to Despise, Abhor or Censure others of Hypocrisy, or of a null •• y of grace, because of their sad, doleful and strange afflictions! For, in so doing we may rashly condemn the Generation of the righteous, before we be aware. God's own endeared people ofttimes lie among these blacking Pots. O think of David and all his afflictions, how he was hunted as a Partridge up and down the Mountains, how all the day long he was plagued, and chastened every morning; Of Paul, in Perils and Distresses on every side; Of Jeremiah, cast into the miry dungeon, and (as some think) sinking up to the Arm-holes in the mire: Of Daniel flung into the filthy and fatal Den of the hungry Lions: Of the Prophets persecuted and slain by the Jews, Acts 7. 52. Of the three Jews bound hand and foot and cast into the hot burning fiery furnace, heat seven times hotter then ordinary, for not worshiping the golden Image; Of Job, covered all over with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown: Jerome thinks, Satan left only his tongue free, that therewith he might blaspheme his LORD: Of Lazarus, full of sores and ulcers; Of Hezekiah, smitten with a mortal boil: Of the godly, killed all the day long, and counted as sheep for the slaughter: Of the Martyrs, Heb. 11. 35, &c. Of the cruel Primitive Persecutions: And of Jesus Christ himself the spot less Son of God, put to death, and crucified by wicked hands, and hung (for the greater infamy) between two thieves, upon the cursed Tree, O think deliberately upon these Instances, viz. Of the unquestionable yea incomparable piety of thei • Persons, and of the unutterable extremities of their Passions and then take heed of the error of Jobs friends, of Despising, Abhorring or Censuring any the servants of the Lord, though lying among the Pots, though implunged under heavy, unusual and extreme calamities. Do you think the worse of a piece of gold, because it is besmeared with soot? Or do you ever the less value a Jewel, because its fallen into the mire? Its gold still, though colleyed: Its a rich jewel still, though bemyred. Why then should we harbor more hard, mean, despising, undervaluing thoughts of afflicted David, Paul, Job, Lazarus, or of any of the distressed Saints of God; which in God's account are precious gold still, rich jewels still, though besmeared and blacked with most deforming and amazing miseries?

5. Hence, Finally, Behold, one noted difference betwixt the condition of God's people in earth and in heaven. Here God's endeared people may lie among the Pots; may be smutted, soyled, blacked, &c. in the eyes of men, with deep and sore afflictions: But when once the last Messenger hath summoned them, and when once they shall set foot in heaven, they shall never lie among the Pots anymore; they shall never be black as Kedars Tents anymore; they shall never be tanned with misery, or Sun-burnt with affliction anymore. But they shall perfectly rest from all their labors, of Sin, Temptation and Tribulation. Then, no more Sea, no more Pain, no more Crying, no more tears, &c. Then Job, that here sat down among the ashes, shall there set up among the Angels. Then Lazarus, that here lay among the dogs, shall there be lodged in Abraham's bosom. Then the endeared Saints and servants of God, that here ofttimes lay among the Pots, shall walk with Christ in triumphant White, and be counted worthy.

And thus I pass from the Dark to the Bright side of the Text; yet shall ye be as the wings of a Dove covered with silver, &c. Hence, note;

Doctrine II.

That, God's afflicted and distressed people shall not always lie among the Pots, but at last (as with Doves wings) shall escape out of their deepest misery, and enjoy all contrary Mercy, Prosperity and Felicity.

They may for a time lie in distress; but not always. Their outward misery may be great: but shall have an end. They may for a few years be oppressed in Egypt, and wander in the Wilderness: but at last they shall come to Canaan, the Promised Rest. Weeping may lodge for a night, but shouting-joy in the morning. In a little wrath God may hide his face from his, for a moment: but with everlasting kindness will he have mercy on them. For a season they may lie among the Pots, like black, soyled and deformed Scullions: but at length they shall be as the Wings of a Dove, covered with silver, and her feathers with yeallow gold. That is, They shall escape: Escape harmless: Escape beauteous, happy and prosperous. Consider well the expressions in the Text, viz. 1. They shall escape. This is noted by, Wings. They shall be (not as a Dove, but) as the wings of a Dove. Wings are swift: A Doves wings are eminently swift. Hereby the Scripture sets forth a swift and speedy escape from distress and trouble; O (saith David) that I had wings like a Dove, then would I flee away and be at rest, &c. Thus, they that lie among the Pots, shall at last be as the wings of a Dove: they shall have a way of escape. 2. They shall escape harmless and innocent. Why else doth he mention the wings of a Dove, rather then of any other fowl? Doves are commended by our Savior for their Simplicity and Harmlesness; Be ye wise as Serpents, and harmless (Or, unmixed) as Doves. God's people when they are tried in the furnace of affliction, shall come forth as refined gold and silver. They shall be purified, and made white, and tried. They shall leave their dross behind them. 3. This is not all. For, They shall so escape out of distresses, as to enjoy the contrary mercies and felicities. This seems to be imported in the Doves white, silver-coloured, and golden-coloured feathers: or, as the Hebrew word properly signifies; her feathers with a greenish yeallow Gold; which feathers in the Dove are very shining, pleasant and beauteous. White, ordinarily in Scripture denotes Prosperity, Felicity, Triumph, Glory, &c. As, Judge. 5. 10. Zech. 6. 3, 6. Rev. 2. 17. & 3. 4, 5, 18. and often elsewhere. And Gold, or Golden, is often used to set forth that which is flourishing, prosperous, rich and happy. Hence, The Babylonish Monarchy is compared to the Head of Gold, excelling all the other, Dan. 2. 32, 38. and Babylon is called, The Golden-one, viz. The Golden City, Isa. 14. 4. and the purest and choicest oil is called, Golden oil, Zech. 4. 12. O, this is a very bright, sweet and comfortable side of the Text.

For further clearing of this sweet Lesson, note: 1. That God's Afflicted shall at last escape out of their distresses into the contrary felicities. 2. Why they shall escape. 3. How God is wont to bring about such their escape. 4. The Inferences that offer themselves hereupon.

1. That God's afflicted shall at last escape and be set free from their distress, and be vested in the Opposite Felicities; is evident,

1. By God's faithful Promises to this effect, in all ages. And God's Promises are one sort of those two immutable things wherein it is impossible for God to lie. Take a taste of such Promises.

God Promised deliverance to Abraham's seed out of all their Egyptian afflictions. —Know of a Surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a Land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. And also that Nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterwards shall they come out with great substance.—But in the fourth Generation they shall come hither again, &c.

In the days of Asaph and David God Promised to his people: — Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. How sweet also is the Promise in my present Text, Psal. 68. 13. In the days of Isaiah; —The LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in Spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.—Oh, thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay they stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with Sapphires, and I will make thy windows of Agats, and thy Gates of Carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones, &c. Oh what manner of stones are here promised for raising of this building! What manner of expressions are here to set forth this deliverance and restauration! Thus their escape, &c. is certain by God's faithful Promises.

2. By God's Peoples frequent Experiences in all Generations, this their escape out of all their blacking troubles, is also very evident. We read much of their distresses in Scripture, but we read much also of their deliverances. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. God's people have many afflictions: but their God hath as many deliverances for them. We read; How Joseph was sold for a servant, clapt up in Prison, hurt with fetters, laid in Iron, &c. yet we read also, how he changed his Prison-garments, how the King loosed him, let him go free, made him Lord of His House, and Ruler of all his Substance, &c. How Israel was oppressed in Egypt, and forty years afflicted in the Wilderness: and yet, How at last the LORD, by a mighty hand and out-stretched arm, brought them out of Egypt, through the Wilderness, into the Promised Canaan, the Land of Rest. How Job sat down among the ashes and scraped himself with a Potsheard: and how God also turned his captivity, restoring him to double Prosperity. How David was hated, persecuted and hunted up and down by Saul, from place to place, from cave to cave, from hold to hold: and yet how at last the LORD established David in peace and glory upon his royal Throne. How Jeremiah was cast into the dirty dungeon, where he sunk into the mire: and also how Jeremiah was lifted up again out of the dungeon. How Jonah was thrown into the Sea, and devoured by the fish which God had prepared: And also how the third day the fish cast up Jonah alive upon the dry ground. How the three Jews were bound and flung into the fiery furnace: And also how they were preserved in the furnace, and delivered out of it, without having an hair of their head singed, their coats changed, or the smell of fire upon them. How Daniel was cast into the Den of Lions: and also how Daniel was taken up again, alive, and without hurt, out of the Lions Den. How Paul was full of Afflictions, in many perils, yea sometimes pressed out of measure, above strength, &c. and yet how in his abounding tribulations, he had abounding consolations by Christ, how he was delivered by the Lord out of them all, yea sometimes from the mouth of the Lyon, sometimes from the jaws of Death. How Lazarus lay at Dives gates, full of sores, licked by dogs, not vouchsafed the crumbs of the rich man's Table (the dogs portion) so that he died: and yet how Lazaruts immediately upon his Death was carried by Angels into Abraham's bosom; And what shall I say? we read, how our dear Redeemer Jesus Christ, was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, abasement and sufferings, from his Manger to his Cross, endured such contradiction of sinners, and at last was cruelly crucified on the Cursed tree, and after buried in the darksom grave: but we read also, How he revived and Rose again from the dead, Ascended up far above all Heavens, leading Sin, Satan, Death, Grave, and all our Captivity Captive, and is sat down on the right hand of God in supreme Authority, Majesty and Glory, All Angels, Principalities and Powers, yea all creatures being subject to him. Now all these, and like experiences of the Saints are most evident Demonstrations, That, the LORD hath not despised, nor abhorred the Affliction of the Afflicted: That, verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

II. But, Why, or whence is it that God's afflicted shall, one way or other, at last escape out of all their afflictions, be taken from among those sullying Pots, and partake the contrary Mercies and Felicities?

Answ This comes to pass;

1. Because, Their God exactly knows how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and Tribulations, though never so intricate and perplexing. Oh the infinite wisdom of God! He knows how to bring his People into troubles, when they know not how they came thither: and he knows how to bring them out of troubles, when they know not how they came thence. He knows how to do this, with means, without means: By strong means, By weak means, and contrary to all means. Thus, by his Angel he brought Peter (sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains) out of prison, his chains falling off his hands, and conducted him through the keepers at the prison door, through the first and second ward, and through the Iron gate of the City, which opened to them of its own accord, &c. Though Peter all this while wist not that it was true which was done by the Angel, but thought he saw a vision. Thus by Cyrus and Darius he brought his Captive Jews out of Babylon as strangely as if they had been fetched out of their Graves. Whence they said; When the LORD turned again the Captivity of his People, we were like them that dream. This deliverance was so wonderful, that it did transcend their Faith, and almost surpass their Admiration. The LORD knows how to deliver us, (us ( willing and nilling, us knowing and not knowing, us waking and sleeping, &c. ) out of our distresses.

2. • Because, Their God is infinitely able and powerful to rescue his people out of their lowest ebb of Tribulation. When King Darius cried to Daniel in the Lions Den, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the Lions? Hark what Daniel answered; O King live forever. My God hath sent his Angel, and hath shut the Lions mouths, that they have not hurt me, &c. As if he had said; Yea, my God is able to deliver me from the Lions, for he hath delivered me. He that made the Lions, can easily shut the mouths of the Lions. O Pagan King believe in this omnipotent God.

3. Because, Their God is infinitely loving, tender and compassionate towards them in all their afflictions. Thus God spake to his Zion, which dwelt with the daughter of Babylon; He that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of mine eye. And the Apple of the eye is a most tender part: the least touch, the least mote, the least hair is very painful and intolerable to it. And such was God's compassion to his afflicted Israel of old, that Isaiah saith; In all their affliction he was afflicted, ( viz he as it were smarted in their pains, sympathizing in their sorrows; And what followed hereupon?) and the Angel of his presence saved them: In his love and in his Pitty he redeemed them, and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old: because of his love, pity, commiserations to them, therefore he redeemed, saved and delivered them lob was restored by God out of all his extremities: but why • Even because of God's love and compassions to him; • e have heard of the patience of Job, and ye have seen the end of the Lord; (viz. what an happy issue God gave of all his sufferings, and why?) that (or, Because, 〈◊〉 ) the Lord is much-of-bowels, and Commiserating. Oh these yearning bowels and commiserations of God were such towards afflicted lob, that he would not suffer him still to lie among the Ashes. How emphatically are they here expressed! That Passage of Hezekia recovered is very sweet; Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption, &c. Hebr. Thou hast loved my soul from the pit of corruption. As if he had said; O Lord, the strength of thy love, the arms of thy love, the cords of thy love &c. have kept me, and rescued me from the grave into which I was sinking: I ascribe my life and recovery, merely to thy love. Oh God's dear love to his afflicted, is a sweet cause of their escape out of affliction.

4. Because, Their Covenant God is ever nigh to, and present with, his people in all their deepest and darkest distresses. Therefore they shall be supported under them, and seasonably released out of all: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. God's Presence with us in trouble, is our deliverance out of trouble. He was the burning lamp in midst of the smoking furnace, Abraham's afflicted seed; He was the Angel in midst of the bush (Israel) burning, but not consumed; He was with Daniel in the Den of Lions, with the three Jews in the fiery furnace, with Jeremiah in the Dungeon, &c. And therefore they all had such false escape. If the LORD's Presence be with his people: then Safety is with them, Deliverance is with them, &c. And in due time they shall be released.

5. Finally, Because their God is most faithful. This Reason the Apostle gives; God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

III. How, and in what way doth God take his People from the Pots, deliver them from their distresses and afflictions?

Answ. The Lord effects and brings this about, variously, and sometimes very mysteriously. As,

1. Oft-times by Transmutations of his Peoples condition. How oft doth he literally in this life Turn, their darkness into light, their sorrow into joy, their sickness into health, their pain into ease, their poverty into riches, their bondage into liberty, their adversity into prosperity, their trouble into triumph, their miseries into mercies! &c. As Joseph's bondage into Lordship; Job's Poverty into double prosperity; Hezekiah's sickness into health, &c.

2. Sometimes by disarming their afflictions and miseries. This is an excellent way: when the sting, venom, mischief, malignity, &c. of affliction is taken out and suspended. In such case, God's people may be visibly in a state of affliction, and yet un-afflicted. As chastened, and not killed; as dying, and yet living; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. Think it not a Paradox. The bush burned, but was not consumed. Daniel was in the Lions Den, but had no hurt by the Lions. God disarmed the Lions paws, and shut their mouths. The three Jews were in the fiery furnace, but had not an hair singed, or their coasts changed, nor had the smell of fire passed upon them: because God suspended the burning property of the flames. Thus the Martyr cried out in the fire, Behold ye Papists that look for wonders, I feel no more pain in this fire, then in a bed of down, but it is to me as a bed of roses. Thus God's dear people are sometimes without affliction, whilst under affliction: Delivered from misery, whilst in misery; God disarming their afflictions of their sting, venom and malignity.

3. Sometimes, by Remedying of one Affliction or Trouble with another. As he that by a wound was cured of an Impostumation; Or, as Physicians sometimes help a Palsy or Lethargy, by sorcing the patient into a Burning Fever: So sometimes the Lord is pleased to deliver his people out of one affliction by another. Thus ( Jonas cast over-board, was saved from the Sea, by being devoured by the Whale. He had been swallowed up, if he had not been swallowed up. He had been devoured, if he had not been devoured. He had been buried, if he had not been buried. The bottom of the Sea had been his grave, if the belly of the fish had not been his grave. How admirable is this Dispensation, when God makes one affliction an antidote against another!

4. Sometimes, by elevating his People above the bitterness of their afflictions, by the surpas • ing sweetness of his Presence, and transporting consolations. Great afflictions may be upon them, but greater divine refreshments may even drown and swallow them up. Our abounding afflictions are sweetly cured by Christ's abounding and superabounding Consolations. The Moon and Stars are in the sky at mid-day, as well as at mid-night, but not one of them then appears; because the Sun shining in his strength, hath outshined them all: So when Jesus Christ the glorious Sun of righteousness shines in his strength of Grace and Consolation upon the hearts of his afflicted, he so shines away their troubles and distresses, that they scarce appear. If Christ steel the Spirit with Faith, Courage and Magnanimity, and fill the heart with the Consolations of God, which are not small; how easy is it to trample upon the greatest tribulation, and count all afflictions as no afflictions, yea as great advantages! Holy Bradford Martyr said; I thank God more of this Prison, then of any Parlour, yea then of any pleasure that ever I had; for in it I find God, my most sweet good God always. And Laurence Sanders Martyr confessed; I was in Prison, till I got into Prison. Jerome hath a good note concerning Job: That God came nearest to Job in his extremities, and dealt with him then most familiarly. And he adds: Let strokes come, let all kind of Punishments come: so that after these Christ will come.

5. Finally, If God release not his dear People from Miseries and Afflictions before death, yet he always sets them at liberty by Death, and brings them into the contrary Felicities. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord—they rest from their labors. Death cures all the Saints diseases, ceaseth all their pains, tears, sighs and groans, and supplies all their wants whatsoever in Christ immediately beheld and enjoyed, which is far best of all. If the Lord do not deliver us before death, he delivers us at death. And if he delivers us not from death: yet he delivers us by death. Death is our great year of Jubilee, our year of Release, when we shall be set at liberty from all our bondage and thralldom, from all our debts and morgages, from all our sorrows and sufferings, because from all our sins. O therefore when death approacheth, then the Saints may gladsomly lift up their heads, for their Redemption draweth nigh. God's people in this world are like Jonah in the Tempest: This world is as the roaring and raging Sea, still ready to drown and swallow them up; but death, like Jonas his Whale, is prepared of God, and swallows them up from the Sea of this world, so that to them there shall be no more Sea: And at last this great devouring Whale, Death, shall be forced to cast them up again upon a safe shore of Eternal rest and true felicity, at the General Resurrection, that they may be where Christ is, to behold his glory, and live in his ravishing presence for evermore.

Thus you see how the Lord delivers his Afflicted out of Afflictions.

III. Inferences hence, by way of Application.

Shall not God's afflicted and distressed people still lie among the Pots, but at last (as with Doves wings ) eseape out of their deepest misery, into the contrary prosperity and felicity? Then,

1. Hence, How different is the Dispensation of God's Providence towards the godly and the wicked, and how different is their condition! The godly must first lie here among the Pots of blacking afflictions; but afterwards shall be, through an happy deliverance, as the wings of a Dove, covered with silver, and her feathers with yeallow gold: First they are in their mourning sables; but after they are clothed with the garments of Praise: First they lie among the Ashes; then after the Lord turns their Captivity: First ( they are in their Dungeon of distresses; after they receive deliverance: First they have their evil things and are tormented; but afterwards their good things and are comforted. But on the other hand, if you look upon the wicked, you shall find the Scene is altered. They may at first be as covered with silver, and their feathers with yeallow gold: but at last they shall lie among the blackest Pots of misery: First they may flourish and spread themselves like a green Bay tree; but after they shall wither like grass upon the housetops: They may now laugh; but hereafter they shall mourn and weep: They may now receive their good things; but hereafter shall have their evil things: They may now be comforted; but hereafter shall be tormented: They may first spring as the grass and flourish, but at last shall be destroyed for evermore.

O then, who would not Triumph to be Godly? who would not tremble to be wicked? The Godly first receive their wormwood and their gall, but afterwards their milk and honey: but contrariwise, the wicked first receive their milk and honey, and then their wormwood and their gall. Oh how much better were it, to begin with Gall and end with Honey, to begin with Sorrow and end with Joy: Then to begin with milk and end with wormwood; then to begin with vanishing comforts, and end with endless Torments.

2. Hence, Let all God's afflicted people that lie among the Pots of darkest fullying miseries, most patiently bear their present pressures, and hopefully wait for their desired Deliverance. They shall be taken from among the Pots, they shall be as the wings of a Dove covered with silver, &c. Therefore, tarry the Lord's leisure. He that believes makes not haste. The Lord's time of Relaxation will come: and his Time is the best time. He doth all things in number, weight and measure. Theres no Contradicting, Diverting or Directing of him in his proceedings. He knows best when, where and how to deliver his distressed ones. Be their sufferings never so extreme or long, they shall at last certainly escape, either from death, or by death: either in this world, to partake sweet temporany felicity; or in the world to come, to enjoy sweetest everlasting glory: Therefore patiently bear and wait a while, and live by Faith: the vision will not fail, at last it will speak and will not lie; and he that cometh with salvation, will come and will not tarry.

3. Hence, Finally, This may much calm and quiet their Spirits whose near Relations lie among the Pots: and also may excite their hearts to unfeigned thankfulness, whose endeared friends are released from distress and misery, to enjoy the contrary felicity.

Are your dear Allies in deep Afflictions, much blacked and disfigured as among the Pots? You bleed in their sufferings, and are exceedingly distressed upon their Extremities. Yet compose yourselves, Theres hope in Israel concerning this. Such as belong to God, one way or other shall have deliverance: either from death, or by death. Remember this and like Promises, and quiet your hearts; Although ye have lien among the Pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a Dove covered with silver, &c.

Are any of your near and sweet Relations Released from their Distresses; Before Death, or By Natures Dissolution? Bless God with thankfulness for his gracious Dispensations. For, thus; God's Promises are Performed: God's Mercies are expressed: Their Miseries are removed, and their Felicities exalted. And, as to the present case before us touching our Dear sister deceased: though heres much matter of sadness, yet heres more matter of thankfulness. Although it was her lot to lie a long time among the Pots, in more sharp tormenting pains and miseries then many others; Yet now she hath obtained a full Release. And, so holy was her Life, so constant her Faith, so steadfast her Patience to the end, and so great her interest in God; that we have no cause to doubt, of her coelestial Felicity, or of her present Triumphs in Glory. It is true, Our loss is great: But her gain is incomparably greater. Her Husband hath lost a Dear, a Sweet, a Comfortable Yoke-fellow; Her Children have lost, a Tender, a Careful, and Compassionating Mother; Her Allies have lost a Faithful and Sincere-hearted Friend; The Poor have lost a special and liberal Benefactor; The Church of God hath lost an Holy, Heavenly and Gracious Saint; yea and Her self hath lost something among all these losses, she hath lost all her Diseases, all her Pains, all her Sighs and Groans, all her Tears, all her Sorrows and Sufferings, all her Troubles and Temptations, and all her sins. But Oh how much hath she gained, upon all these losses! she hath Gained Heaven, Glory, Eternal Life, The Spirits of just men made perfect, The Society of Angels, The immediate presence and embracements of Christ, the beatifical vision and full fruition of God; The joy of her Lord, and unmixed pleasures at God's right hand for evermore. These, These are high matters of gratulation. I say of her, to you her near relations, as sometimes Jerome said of Nepotianus to Heliodorus; O lament not so much that you have lost such an one, as rejoice that you have had such an one: yea, again rejoice and bless God that you have had such an one so long. Consider; Her extremities on earth were intolerable; but her enjoyments in heaven are unutterable. Your losses of her may be abundantly made up in God: but what can compensate her present felicities? Her sorrow is turned into joy, her misery is swallowed up of felicity, her trouble is terminated in triumph. She hath passed from the Dark side, to the Bright side of my Text. O bless the LORD for her, and rejoice with her; That she lies now no longer among the Pots, but is become as the wings of a Dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yeallow Gold.