London's lamentation, or, A serious discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation that turned our…

Thirdly, By severe Providences and by fiery Trials, God designs the growth of his people in grace. Usually the graces of the Saints thrive best when they are under a smarting §3Rod. Grace usually is in the greatest flourish, when the Saints are under the sorest trials. The snuffing of the Candle makes it burn the brighter. God beats and bruises his links to make them burn the brighter; he bruises his spices ¹to make them send forth the greater aromatical savour. Fiery trials are like the Tezel, which though it be sharp and scratching, it is to make the cloth more pure and fine. God would not rub so hard, were it not to fetch out the dirt and spots that be in his people. The Jews were always best when they were in their lowest condition. Well-waters arising from deep Springs, are hotter in the Winter then they are in the Summer▪ Stars shine brightest in the darkest nights; and so do the graces of the Saints shine brightest in the darkest nights of affliction and tribulation. God will sometimes more carry on the growth of grace by a Cross then by an Ordinance; yea, the Lord will first or last, more or less, turn all fiery ⟨p. 47⟩trials into Ordinances for the helping on the growth of ²grace in his peoples souls. Look as in the lopping of a tree, there seems to be a kind of diminution and destruction; yet the end and issue of it is better growth: And as the weakening of the body by Physic, seems to tend to death; yet it produceth better health, and more strength: And as the ball by falling downward, riseth upward; and as water in pipes descends, that it may ascend: So the Saints spiritual growth in grace is carried on by such divine methods, and in such ways as might seem to deaden grace, and weaken it rather then any ways to augment and increase it. We know that winter is as necessary to bring on harvest, as the spring: and so fiery trials are as necessary to bring on the harvest of grace, as the spring of mercy is. Though fiery trials are grievous; yet they shall make us more gracious. Though for the present we cannot see but that such and such severe providences and fiery trials, as the loss of house, estate, trade, friends, will redound much to our prejudice and damage; yet in the issue we shall find, that God will turn