46 Queffion,r,andCaf,tofCoufcience about4fig#ion.r:; , 'Chap , ill his robes : Pti/pot inhis Cokhoufe, then Bonner in his Palace. ' Sixthly, confider the gracious ends, and defines that God bath in affli&ing his child.en, mentionedbefore. , Seventhly, the fweet and precious Promifes thathe hath made to them, to comfort and £up?ort them in the day of their affli&ion. i t.rhly,thar all atiliaions !hall at tall work fortheir good, Rem. 8.zg. God beats his children as we do our cloathes in the Sunne, only to beat out duff and Mot hes : Godputs them into theFurnace, not tohurt, butto untie the bonds oftheir fins, as Dan. 3.2 5. God willeither deliver them out of affliStions, or find them toheaven by them. Quetl. What elfe may co;fort it in the times of offüaion ? eXnfv. Firfl, confider that byafibtions weareconformed to the Image of Ch: ifl, Rom. 8. 29. . Secondly, that Chia hirnfelffufftrs with us, nay, Puffers inus. Aar9.4.Chrid bdnz the headof that myflical body, whereof we are members. Thirdly, he will fofirm then us with his grace, that we {hall be able to fay ' with the Apoflle, Phil. 4. ï3. Ican doall thins, (yea, and fuffer all things too) throsTh Chrlft thatftrengtbnethme. Fourthly, Chrilf will fweetenall thofe waters of Marah to us, that we than finde there molt delicious in the close, Cant. Lt;. A bundle of (Myrrh; is my beloved to me, he¡halllic all night bra,. en wy breafts : though a bundle of bitter- netle, yet l'le lodgehim as near myheart as maybe. Fifthly, as light rstoa man that bath lien long in a dungeon : as theHaven is to theMartinet that hath been log rolledat the Sea: Soshall Heavenbe to that foul, that hath been under longand grievous afliietions: Qua. What muffwe do to prepare for fflitlions ? Anfsv. Firft, get aflock of graces : For fickneffe is a time of fpending, not gettinggrace. WoCO that manthat bath his graces to get when he fhouldufe them. Now the Gracesto be flirted up before-hand are, r. A true and a VTong faith : for a little faith will faint under great affi&}ions : when the winde blew. fiercely, Peters little faith failed, Mat., 4.;o. z. Agreat mcafure of patience ro enable us to wait quietly and contentedly, till God comes in with help, whomany times deferres till the fourth watch of the night, as .lilac. r4.25. ;. A great flock of felf-denial, humility, contempt of theworld, heavenly mindedneffe Such will be as Cafe as Noah in the Ark : and as thofe which had fufficient food in the feven years dearth in Egypt. Secondly, a Rockofaffuranceoffalvation : For Trace without affurance, and knowledge of it, cannot comfort in the dayof diflreflè, job 19. z5. this was Job; comfort. SoPaul0Rom.8.28. Thirdly, aRock of divine experiences, whereby we may argue from them in the dayof adverfity : So Mofes, Numb. 14. 19. andDavid, r Sam. 17. 3 7. and Pax!, a Cor. r. lo. Fdurthly, aflock ofSermons: we fhouldufe Sermons as good husbands do their money : force they lay out for their prefentoccafions, and fomt they lay up incafe of ficknefte : Hence Ife.42..23. we ate commanded CO hear for after- time. Fifthl}it, a Rock ofScripture-Promifeswhich willbe as fo'many reviving cordi- als, and fpiritual Anchors to uphold us from peddling in thedayof ditireffe. So David, Pfal.r 19.92.1 hadperifhed in mine afrïfien, unlefe thy Law had beenmy delight. Quell. But what may we do to know the meaning and voice of gods Rod.? 3np.0 44.. dinfre_ n
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