A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…

Look as no man can paint the sweetness of the Honey-comb, nor the sweetness of a cluster of Grapes, nor the fragrancy of the Rose of Sharon: so no man can paint out the sweetness and spiritualness of that joy, that the Divine presence raises in the soul, when a Christian is under the greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers. Holy joy is a treasure that lies deep; and 'tis not every man that had a Golden Key to search into this Treasury. Look as a man, standing on the Sea shore sees a great heap of waters, one wave riding upon the back of another, and making a dreadful noise, but all this while though he sees the water rolling, and hears it raging and roaring, yet he sees not the wealth, the gold, the silver, the jewels, and incredible treasures that lye buried there: so wicked men they see the wants of the Saints, but not their wealth; they see their poverty, but not their riches; their miseries, but not their mercies; their conflicts, but not their comforts; their sorrows, but not their joys. O this blind World cannot see the joys, the comforts, the consolations, that the Divine presence raises in the souls of the Saints, when they are at worst! Holy joy and cheerfulness under great troubles and deep distresses, is an honour to God, a glory to Christ, and a credit to Religion; it stops the mouths of sinners, and it encourages and strengthens weak Saints, and therefore the: Lord will be signally present with his ⟨p. 132⟩People in their greatest troubles, &c. that they may grace their suffering condition with joy and cheerfulness. And let thus much suffice for the reasons of the point.

Look as no man can paint the sweetness of the Honey-comb, nor the sweetness of a cluster of Grapes, nor the fragrancy of the Rose of Sharon: so no man can paint out the sweetness and spiritualness of that joy, that the Divine presence raises in the soul, when a Christian is under the greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers. Holy joy is a treasure that lyes deep; and 'tis not every man that had a Golden Key to search into this Treasury. Look as a man, standing on the Sea shore sees a great heap of waters, one wave riding upon the back of another, and making a dreadful noise, but all this while though he sees the water rouling, and hears it raging and roaring, yet he sees not the wealth, the gold, the silver, the jewels, and incredible treasures that lye buried there: so wicked men they see the wants of the Saints, but not their wealth; they see their poverty, but not their riches; their miseries, but not their mercies; their conflicts, but not their comforts; their sorrows, but not their joyes. O this blind World cannot see the joyes, the comforts, the consolations, that the Divine presence raises in the souls of the Saints, when they are at worst! Holy joy and cheerfulness under great troubles and deep distresses, is an honour to God, a glory to Christ, and a credit to Religion; it stops the mouths of sinners, and it encourages and strengthens weak Saints, and therefore the: Lord will be signally present with his