A F .F L I c T I 0 .N <COMPARED TO F I R E. Book iV. are over us,- that we can fee no Light, we cannot fee through them, no feeing Thing~ beyond them; when others are not fo dark, they are like light Clouds, the Mind of God may be feen and plainly under!tood in them. J ob was covered with thick Dark– .nef>, he underflood not the Reafon why God contended with him, he had quite lofr light of the Almighty; I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive him; on the Left·hand, where he doth work, I cannot behold him; he bideth hiw– felf on the Right-band, tbat I cannot fee him, Job xxiii. 9, 10. But it was his Mercy, God was hid on the Right-hand ; for fometimes he hides himfdf on the Left-hand from a People. IV. Clouds make the Day dark, dull, and People very melancholy: So fome of God's difmal Providences make the Difpenfation in which we live very dark and uncomfort" .able, and fill us wirh Trouble and Sorrow. V. Clouds are at the Commandment of God, he covers the Heavens wirh them, .and again diffipates and fcatters them at his Pleafure: So all the Troubles and C:ala– mities that attend a People or Nation, are brought upon them by the ordering and .over-ruling Hand of God's Providence l Is there any Evil in a City and I have not done it? Who gave J aeon for a Spoil, and Ifrael I~ the Robbers? Did·llot the Lord? .&c. !fa. xlii. 24· And then he .agaio, fometimes in an unexpected Manner, fcatters .all the thick Clouds in a Moment, making the Day clear, ferene, and comfortable. VI. Clouds fometimes grow thicker and thicker, threatening a difmal Storm of Thunder and Hail, -caufing all that .are in the Field to haflen home: So the Difpenfa– tions of God's Judgments fometimes are fuch, that all God's People fear a dreadful Srorm will come u.pon them ; and then thofe who have ftrayed abroad and eftranged 'themfelves from .God, begin to look about them, and haften home apace, to take .fancruary in God. VII. Clouds cover the Face of Heaven; many Vapors gathering together rife up and darken the Sun, and keep us from the comfortable AfpeCt thereof: I will cover the Sun with a Cloud. The fame Word that is ufed for a Cloud, cloth lignify a Multi– tude: So Clouds, as Mr. Greenhi/1 obferves, fometimc; fignify a Multitude of Men, .a Multitude of Enemies, as it was prophefied conc,erning Nebuchadnezzar's Army, and of the great Gog, Thou jhalt afcend, and come like a Storm, and jhalt be like a Cloud ,to cover the Land. VIII. Clouds are fo fwift, that they .are irre!iflible; they pour out the Rain,, and none can let them: So the Enemies, and other Troubles, come fometimes in upon ·God's .People, that there is no ftopping the_m. IX. ·Clouds are fuch plain Emblems of Mifery and Affiiction, that the Hebrew •Word l::lll for a Cloud, Ggnifies alfo Calao1ity: So the Day of the Lord's Wrath in Scripture is fer our by ·Clouds frequently: That ])ay is a Day of Trouble and Dijlrefs, a Day of ])arknefs and Gloominefs, a Day of Clouds and thick Darknefs. Now the Reafons wh.y God brings Clouds and D~rknefs upon his People, are many, ,which I ·mufl pafs by. A F F L I c T I 0 N COMPARED TO F I R E. ]1/herefore glorify ye the Lord in tbe Fire, !fa. xxiv. 13. ] will bring the third Part through the Fire, &c. Zech. xiii. 9· And the Fire jha!ltry every Man's Work, of what Sort it is, 1 Cor. iii. I 3. FIRE ·is taken in the holy Scripture two Ways, either literally, or figuratively and metaphorically; and fo it fignifies feveral Things, and amongft the reft, thefe; I. The Wrath of God, Mat. iv. J, 2. The Effetl:s of his Wrath, !fa. lii. 4· 3· Any fore and difmal AffliCtion, Trial, or Perfecution, !fa. xxiv. l5· Note. Judgments, .or fore Calamities, are compared to Fire. P A R A· L L E L ~ '1:. THERE is a great Judgment and Terror in Fire let loofe upon a People: So when God brings in Enemies, or lets loofe upon a People, it is a great J udg– ment, very terrible and .amazing. . J I!. There
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