An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

When they complain he doth not presently relieve them, nay, he lays heavier burdens of affliction upon them, and makes them more matter of complaining, before they have any matter of rejoicing.

When they complain he doth not presently relieve them, nay, he laies heavier burdens of affliction upon them, and makes them more matter of complaining, before they have any matter of rejoycing.

¹Secondly thus, The Lord is said to laugh, in regard of the pleasure He takes in the fruits, effects and issues of those troubles, wherewith his people are exercised: He laugheth, not at the affliction it self, but at the effects and success of it: he knows the issue will be matter of high contentment to himself, and benefit to the Saints. He laughs at their trial, because he knows they will honour him in their trials. He laughs not because they are pained, but because himself is glorified. As a father who puts a child upon a very hard task, which yet he is assured the child is able to go through with, takes content to see him sweat at it, to pant and blow at it: Or, as a Commander in war, rejoices when he puts a party, of whose valour and skill he is confident, upon some dangerous service: Though he knows many of them must bleed for it, and some of them (perhaps) die for it, yet it pleases him to see such engaged in it. Thus God laughs at the trials and most desperate adventures of the innocent, for he sees they are men who will bide a trial, they will neither shrink in the wetting, nor will their spirits consume in the burning.

¹Secondly thus, The Lord is said to laugh, in regard of the pleasure He takes in the fruits, effects and issues of those troubles, wherewith his people are exercised: He laugheth, not at the affliction it self, but at the effects and successe of it: he knows the issue will be matter of high contentment to himself, and benefit to the Saints. He laughs at their triall, because he knows they will honour him in their trials. He laughs not because they are pained, but because himself is glorified. As a father who puts a childe upon a very hard task, which yet he is assured the childe is able to go thorow with, takes content to see him sweat at it, to pant and blow at it: Or, as a Commander in warre, rejoyces when he puts a party, of whose valour and skill he is confident, upon some dangerous service: Though he knows many of them must bleed for it, and some of them (perhaps) die for it, yet it pleases him to see such engaged in it. Thus God laughs at the trials and most desperate adventures of the innocent, for he sees they are men who will bide a triall, they will neither shrink in the wetting, nor will their spirits consume in the burning.