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

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: ⟨p. 50⟩like the Merchants, holding up their commodity, because it cost them dear. All oppositions, if they do not overcome, they strengthen that which they do oppose: as water cast upon the fire, it makes that fire ²burn hotter, that it does not quench. Wind shaking the tree, makes it grow more steady. Thus the tribulations of the godly, and the persecutions they suffer, do oppose their graces, but because they cannot overcome them, they strengthen them: As we read Psalm 45. when the Church forsakes all, when she leaves her fathers house, and her kindred, then doth the King greatly delight in her beauty, her beauty is great then, and exceeding delightful in the eyes of the Lord: Cant. 2. 14. O my dove (says Christ to the Church) thy voice is sweet, thy countenance is comely: let me hear thy voice, let me see thy countenance: This is spoken of the state of the Church, after her deliverance from great afflictions, after her return from captivity; before her captivity she was loathsome and vile in Gods eyes; God hateth her, as appears,