a 230 Chap. 19, ran Expofition upon the Beek_of J o B. Verf. r Z. yea for force yeares. The troopes of trouble give Tome onely a fierceCharge, but they fit downe, and encampagain the Ta- bernacles of others. Some particular foules have endured longer lieges then everany Citie did. Not onely doe the terr0urs of (Jod ( within andwithout) fee themfelves in array again them ( as 706 complained Chap. 6. 4. ) but they are aflidedand reau'ie to dye from theiryouthup, filtering thef terreurs, as Hensan corn- plaines, ( Pfd. 88. 15. ) Therefore let not our hearts faint, though we are befieged , though forrowes encamp againft us. When God feemes to tell us in the difpeníationsof his providence, that he will batterus downe, and level( us with the ground, yet all this is but to try howwe can hand our ground in an evill day, howwe can rnaintaine our truft , and hold out a liege ; Some give up the ftrengths under their command at the firft fum- mons , others hold out till the laft bit of bread ; God doth but trie his whether they will perfevere to the laft, to the utmoft. Let patience have itsperfet'c works, for affliftions will have their perfeft worke ; when they make long worke, let patience make long worke too. WhenGod encamps againft us, let us fpeedily give up the ftrong holds offinne, but ;et us maintaine the ftrong holds of grace, the forts of faith and patience quitting our felves like men or rather like Chriftians ; let us give proofe of holy courage in the hotteft afiaults, and in the longeft lieges. The Lord Both not intend ruine to our perlons, though he ruine our ¡Tabernacles, Thofe outward evills fhall worke for our good , which deprive us ofall outward good, and if both, the.Tabernacles which we ufe, and in which we dwell, while we are in the body, asalto the Tabernacles ofour body be dif- folved and fhattered to the ground in this warre, yet we have a buildingofGod an knife not made vaith hands eternal' in the heavens. laftly , Obferve; There is no (riving, no contending with afiEions. God bath whole troopes and Armies of them at his com- mand. As his enemies cannot Rand before him, fo neither can his friends when he appeareth as an enemy. There is no pre- vailing but by fubmitting. who ( faith the Lord, Ifa. 27. 4. ) wouldfit the bryars and themes againff me in batten, 1 wouldgee therou,h
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