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…

It is the observation of Seneca, a Roman Moralist and Philosopher, in his book of providence, speaking of some of the ancient Worthies of Rome, I see not (saith he) what Jupiter hath on earth more contentfull to him, or to which he would rather turn his eye, then to behold Cato standing firm in the midst of public ruins, and that, though (after all his wrestlings, as a noble Patriot for the saving of his Country) he found both his honest counsels broken, and his unwearied labours lost, yet ⟨p. 320⟩he did not lose his Spirit, nor was his heart broken. Now, if an Heathen could say, that to see such a man contest with all manner of troubles, was, he thought, a delight for Jupiter, and laughter to the idol-gods: May not we changing the persons make his sense the comment of this text, and a proof of this observation? It is a holy delight to the holy God to see his faithful ones, his Abrahams in a trial, to see his Jobs in a trial, his Pauls in a trial, to see those Grandees in graces show such admirable skill, such courage, such zeal, such faith, such patience, such submission of spirit, to see Saints play the men thus in such spiritual trials and hottest services, is not this just matter of laughing and rejoicing to the Lord?

It is the observation of Seneca, a Roman Moralist and Philosopher, in his book of providence, speaking of some of the ancient Worthies of Rome, I see not (saith he) what Jupiter hath on earth more contentfull to him, or to which he would rather turn his eye, then to behold Cato standing firm in the midst of publike ruines, and that, though (after all his wrestlings, as a noble Patriot for the saving of his Countrey) he found both his honest counsels broken, and his unwearied labours lost, yet ⟨p. 320⟩he did not lose his Spirit, nor was his heart broken. Now, if an Heathen could say, that to see such a man contest with all manner of troubles, was, he thought, a delight for Jupiter, and laughter to the idol-gods: May not we changing the persons make his sense the comment of this text, and a proof of this observation? It is a holy delight to the holy God to see his faithfull ones, his Abrahams in a triall, to see his Jobs in a triall, his Pauls in a triall, to see those Grandees in graces shew such admirable skill, such courage, such zeal, such faith, such patience, such submission of spirit, to see Saints play the men thus in such spirituall trials and hottest services, is not this just matter of laughing and rejoycing to the Lord?