Chap 7. d« Exp46.,1gm the Boot¿ of JOB. Veri. r, . 66, us every morning, and tries us every momept, that is, very, very often, as often as may be, to fee whether we keep our watches, and 'land duely upon our guard. But fecandly, it may no,e a trial, as a Schollar istried, by ex- amination : We call it:Proba:ione day, when the proficienecy of Schollars is examined ; God cometh toexamine and makeproba tion of mens prtficiencie ; what have you gotten ? how have you improved fuch times, fuch opportunities for the gaining of fpiri- tual knowledg? what have you learned, what know you more of your (elves ? what more of God andJefus Chrift,whom to know is eternal life ? Thirdly, It may note trial by afliifkion : Therearc three words r. xsfFue, which fignifie thr troubles, Hhieh God brings upon man : Theyare asre:d't Firli, flridly, Judgements ,which he fends in wrath upon enemies : 3.HrohO Secondly, Ghaitifements and corretions : Thirdly, Temptations or trials, theft arc proper to his children. Hence 'obferve ,Afflictions are trials. The Lord proves what grace there is in the heart,and he tries what corn' uption there is in the heart by afflition Thereare many graces in the heart ofman untried , and there are. fomc that cannot be tried,till God bring him to an houre of trou- ble.There are many corruptions in the hart ofman,which he taks nonotice of, nor can, till he is ofBled ; many a good foul would not beleeve that thy had fuch an unbeleiving heart, fuch a proud heart,tilLGod tryed him, & then corruption difcovered it felt.Thc reafon why God brought his people fuch away about in the wil- dernefs, was,( Dew 8 2. ) to prove them, to try tbem, to know what was in their heart. God knowcs what is in the hea;t of man intuitivclty, and he needs not got about ; he can got the nee- reftway into every-mans heart;he proves only it only to make it known to others, and tomake a man know himfelf. They could . not thinke their hearts were fo rebellious,fo ful of murmereingand unbeclefe, if God had not taken them about to prove and try them, thofeforty years. prolperity and comforts arc trialls too: whatfoever God doth with a man, he tome way or other.trieshim. Look not only Upon your affliâions as trials, yout mercies allo are tryals : God gives you them to fee what youwill doe with them; he gives riches and honour andcredit,to fee howmen will ufe and improve them: us by af#lid ions, fo by outward comforts, he tries both what grace and what corruption it in our hearts. He gives comforts, toffee Q999; how
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