Sera i 8. on Divine Providence ? 451 3. With resjtFt to Saints future fervices. Great sufferings are many times fent to prepare Saints for extraordinary Services. See it in u7o.. u Gen. 41. feph and Paul ;7 o fepb thrown into a pit, fold a flave into ,Egypt, there 40, 41 cati into a prifon, by all fitted for a Palace, and to be a /Var./jug Father to the Church. God bellows more Chopping and Hewing on Corner - fones, becaufe He intends, they shall not only support, but adorn_the Building. God means to build high. upon them, therefore laies his foundations very low : Intends to fell thefe Diamonds at an high rate, and thence it is, He fpends fo much Time and Art in cutting them. 4. With re (Pea to the f,rtherance of their future Glory. Christ went from a Cross To Paradice, fo do Chriftians. The Mafter was made perfect through fufferings, Heb. 2. to. So are Saints, his Servants. Though the Saints Croft cannot merit, yet it makes way for a Crown.of Life, ram. r. 12. Their Light affliaions which are but. for a memenet, occafionally work for them, a far more excellent, and eternal weight of Glory, 2. Cor.4. i 7. V I. Be it really Ill, never fo o ill, yet It might well be worfe. Be the fuffering what it will, yet whilJl here, whild Aboveground,'Tis far left than 1 have * deferved. Bleffid be God, cryed out that *Man of * Ezr.9.r ;. God, when in the Paroxifm of His Gout, This though sharp, is not Hell, * M, 4Vhi The worft that we care feel here in not the rococo part of what we have taper. deferved hereafter. Everyfep on this fide Hell ra mercy, faith a fenfsble Believer. God is gracious in His greateft feverity, remembers tr.,er>y in the midst of rudiment. As 'tis Did of Ashur: His ,fhooswere Iron and Brass, yet he dipt His foot in oil, D.ut. 3 3. 24, 25 . S' God Tem- pers hisgreateft feverities, with the oil of Mercy. Corrects but in mea- fure, If.17.6.nay in Mercy ,in infinite Mercy. I that have deferved the blow of an Executioners Axe, am feat awa', with the Lath, my of a Fa- thrrs Rod. God only lops of fame luxuriant branches, when in Inflict He might cut up the Vine,both Root and Branch, and ceft both into Ever - lafring flames. V I I. And Laflly, Be it scow never fo Ill, it will certainly be. Bet - x Aremo dee- ter. Thus the Pfalmìft. AI! thy waves are gone over me, yet the Lord set snetio s will command His loving kindnef r, Pfal. 42.7, 8. Thus the Church, T plus See. Mic,7.7,$,q.More particaldrly Faith concludes; T. My ARliaions, though La.i-ting, will not he Everlafting. Though the night be dark and long,yet there will come a day- break,and comfor- table Dawn : my God will not alwayes chide, neither will he contend for ever, I f 5 7.16. Rev. 2. I O. 2. My greaten Extremity of Diftrefs, is Gods faireft apportunty for M m m Deliverance.
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