Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

and it is the glory ⟨p. 49⟩of the Lord in which the Lord delights, that he hath a people whose hearts are closely knit to him, in the most afflicted distressed condition that can befall them, who are content to suffer any thing for him, to submit to his blessed will, to honour him any way that he shall please, though it be in the loss of dearest comforts, and suffering the sorest and hardest afflictions.

and it is the glory ⟨p. 49⟩of the Lord in which the Lord delights, that he hath a people whose hearts are closely knit to him, in the most afflicted distressed condition that can befal them, who are content to suffer any thing for him, to submit to his blessed will, to honor him any way that he shal please, though it be in the loss of dearest comforts, and suffering the sorest and hardest afflictions.

Sixthly, by afflictions the graces of the Saints are ¹much increased, as Israel never increased so much as when Pharaoh most oppressed; for two hundred and fifteen years before, they increased but to seventy; but in less time, when they were oppressed, they increased to more then six hundred thousand men fit for War, besides women and children: thus the spiritual increase of the true Israel of God is much in afflictions more usually then at other times. Gods people to whom afflictions are sanctified, never thrive so much in grace, as when they are watered with their own tears. The Rose is sweeter in the Still, then upon the stalk. Fish thrive better in cold and salt waters, then in warm and fresh: the largest fish are not in the fresh Rivers, but in the coldest salt Seas. The ground is most fruitful that is most harrowed. The most plentiful Summer, follows after the hardest Winter: The face of Religion is never so beautiful, as when it is washed with its own tears. The Walnut tree is most fruitful when it is most beaten: Camomel flourisheth most, when it is most trodden on, and pressed down: suffering for truths does much confirm men in them; that which a man hath bought at a dear rate, he is loath to part with: thus we find it in men who suffer for errors, they are ever the more stiff in them: