over the greatefi priais. 369 but to part with a natural fon, one that was a part ofhimfclf, a part of his own body. Again, ifhe were a Ion amongft many more,but he tr.it part withhis Only fon,his only fon base. Again, if eAbraham had been young,and might have enjoyedanother fon,ithad not been fo much, but he is theonly fon ofhis old age. Again, if it' ere the fon ofhisoldage,if it hadbeen an lfhmael,thishad not been fo much, but his only fon Yeast; a child ofpromifc, and ofprayer, a child ofmany¡ tears. Again, if it had been a fon whereinhe took no-great delight,` that hisaffeelions were not fo much fet upon,it hadnot been Ira inuch,hut it wasthe Iota ofhis love he muffnot only part with his only fon, and the only fon ofhis old age, but his onl, fon whom he loved. Again, if it were but only to partfrom him, to have bina taken away, this had not been fo much, but he mutt kill his fon, he mutt cut his fon in pieces, and fo otter him up to God, wherein his heart might have difputedwith that finful art of mur-; der. Again,ifanother hadbeen to do it to cut his fon in pieces,but'Abrahamnntft do it himfelf, the tender Father mutt take away the life ofhis tender child. Again, ithad not been fo great ; ifAbraham had been to do it prefently, or near o Tome of his friends, that mighthave hindred him from this Aft; but Abraham muff go three days journey, andmullgo to an unknownplace; and there mat pour ótlt the heart and blood,and life ofhis Ifaac. In thcfe many particulars we may fee the greatnefs of Abrahams trial; O the heighth and depth, and bredth ofthis trial, noone could impofe Inch a trial, but a God, and none could anfwer filch a trial, but an Abraham. lobmay come in as another inftance, God gives lab this tclliinouy, that he was an eminent perfon, None like him in theearth, aperfefl and uprioht man; and ens that feared God, and efcbewed evil; He Teemed to be the tallait Cedar, and yet he had the lharpefl winds, his eminency in grace, would not deliver him fromtrouble; he is tried many wayes, in the lofsof his cattel; and then in the lofs ofhis fervants, and then in the lofs of his children, and in the lofs ofall his children at once,and all on a fudden; and at fuch a time, the timeofhis greateft profperity _ he is triedby his near friends, condemned for an hypocrite, and by his ownwife condemned, and tempted to curie God ; andhe was tried by God himfelf, fi e wrote bitter things a_ gainfi him, and fattened his arrows in his fpirit: But to leave theirinftances,lct mecrave leave alittle to touch opon two things for thefull and clear openingof t, is point. Firft, I willthew you wherein the ftrength ofa trial may conf!t. And fecondly, I will Thewyou, why God is pleated to lay ftrong and great trials, upon ftrong and great Chriftians. Firft,Wherein the ftrengthof a trialmay confift;and I will obferveGs things which Maymake a trial great. - Firít, one is the goodnefs,and kindnefs of the agent that deals With us,When any near to us in afingular relation to us, (hall feetn to turn againft-ui,' -and fpoilusand perfecute us, when a dearfriend fhall prove abitter enemy ; O this is a heavy trial, l no fword cutsto (harp as this,nothing makes a greater wound then this ; when God himfclf!hall fecmto rejeet:He who had Paid thus much,I will be a God to Abraham, and I will bids thee, and multiply thy feed, and yet now to command hima'Dael with his fon: fora man to meet with a condition oftrouble and forrow, when he repelis all mercy ankliplaflion,and tendernefs of love ; O this dothcattle fìngular f rrow: to meet wt SinthemidfloftheOcean, it is a common thing, but to thruft the fhip intoforce harbour, and there to meet (hipwrack, O this is very much : for a Chriftian to find (corns, and hard adage from the world, this is but, an ordinary thing ; but when he looks up toheaven, and receives loch looks and frowns fromGod; that fetchtears from his eyes, and from his heart, this is much More, B b b a. _. Secondly;_ 4. 5. î. Io, Job P. E. Whetein the .. rirength of a trial confifts. .:
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