AFFLICTIOí^dS. 327 ledges that all this proceeded from the love and care of God; yea, his fixing his heart upon a man to magni- fy him, to set him up and do him good: for this end doth he chasten a man every morning, and try him every moment ; and that with such afflictions as are, for the present, so far from being joyous, that they give no rest, but even weary the soul of life. verse 15, 16. It is observed of Job, that when none in the earth was like to him in trouble, God gave him three testimonies from heaven that there was none in the earth like to him in grace. And though it may not be laid down as a general rule, yet, for the most part, in the providence of God, from the foundation of the world, those who have had most of afflictions have had most of grace, and the most eminent testimonies of acceptance with God. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Head of the church, had all afflictions gathered into a head in him ; and yet the Father always loved him, and was well- pleased with him. When God solemnly renewed his covenant with Abraham, and he had prepared the sacrifice whereby it was to be ratified and confirmed, God made a smok- ing furnace to pass between the pieces of the sacrifice. Gen. 15 : 17. It was to let him know that there was a furnace of affliction attending the covenant of grace and peace. And so he tells Zion, that he chose her in the furnace of affliction, Isaiah, 48 : 10, that is, in Egyp- tian affliction, burning, flaming afflictions, fiery trials, as Peter calls them. 1 Pet. 4 : 12. No argument then can be drawn from affliction, from any kind of it, from any aggravating circumstance wherewith it may be attend- ed, that should discourage the soul in its comforting,
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