The fiery trial no strange thing delivered in a sermon preached at Charlestown February…The fiery tryal no strange thing delivered in a sermon preached at Charlestown February…

4. If we consider the end of these fiery trials, and that ariseth from the improvement which God, who is the prime agent in them, makes thereof, and it is to be discovered and observed by us in the operation; the substance of it is, it is to make his people more humble, more holy, more serviceable to the glory of his own great Name, more profitable in their generation, and better fitted and prepared for the Kingdom of glory, Moses sums up all briefly, Deut. 8. 16. Where ⟨p. 12⟩having given an account of the difficulties, and fiery trials which Israel met with in the Wilderness, he certifies them that the design of all these was only this, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good in thy latter end.

4. If we consider the end of these fiery tryals, and that ariseth from the improvement which God, who is the prime agent in them, makes thereof, and it is to be discovered and observed by us in the operation; the substance of it is, it is to make his people more humble, more holy, more serviceable to the glory of his own great Name, more profitable in their generation, and better fitted and prepared for the Kingdome of glory, Moses summs up all briefly, Deut. 8. 16. Where ⟨p. 12⟩having given an account of the difficulties, and fiery tryals which Israel met with in the Wilderness, he certifies them that the design of all these was only this, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good in thy latter end.

2. It is prejudicial to the People of God: for them to place such an account upon the fiery trial is much to their disadvantage: for that,

2. It is prejudicial to the People of God: for them to place such an account upon the fiery tryal is much to their disadvantage: for that,

1. It tempts us to rob God of that glory which is his due, and we ought to give him in the fires: God expects to be glorified by his people, but whiles we look with amazement, and these things astonish us,, we are more ready to dishonour him, by calling his wisdom, love, goodness, truth, &c. into question, if we count the fiery trial strange, we shall answerably have strange thoughts of God, and hard thoughts of Religion, so he, Psal. 73. 13. & 77. 8, 9.

1. It tempts us to rob God of that glory which is his due, and we ought to give him in the fires: God expects to be glorified by his people, but whiles we look with amazement, and these things astonish us,, we are more ready to dishonour him, by calling his wisdome, love, goodness, truth, &c. into question, if we count the fiery tryal strange, we shall answerably have strange thoughts of God, and hard thoughts of Religion, so he, Psal. 73. 13. & 77. 8, 9.

3. It will fill the soul full of jealousies and strange suspicions, ready to say of every cross and trouble, this is certainly against me: he will take all for Enemies, and think God so too, and say as he, thou settest me for thine enemy.

3. It will fill the soul full of jealousies and strange suspitions, ready to say of every cross and trouble, this is certainly against me: he will take all for Enemies, and think God so too, and say as he, thou settest me for thine enemie.

4. It will make the trial by these means far more grievous and hard to bear, it will fret and vex the Soul, raise disquietments and discontents; we shall behave our selves like Ephraim, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke, Jer. 31. 28. here is the very reason of all the unruly carriages of the people of God at any time under their afflictions, because they have not a right apprehension and opinion of them.

4. It will make the tryal by these means far more grievous and hard to bear, it will fret and vex the Soul, raise disquietments and discontents; we shall behave our selves like Ephraim, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke, Jer. 31. 28. here is the very reason of all the unruly carriages of the people of God at any time under their afflictions, because they have not a right apprehension and opinion of them.

5. And from all these, we render our selves exceeding uncapable of receiving Counsel, or Comfort: if God send ⟨p. 13⟩us advise, we cannot hear it, if consolation, we cannot receive it: thus we read, Exod. 6. 9. Moses spake unto the Children of Israel, but they hearkened not unto Moses, for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. Now all these things damnify us, & so prevent that good which otherwise we might derive to our selves from these exercises, how sharp soever.

5. And from all these, we render our selves exceeding uncapable of receiving Counsel, or Comfort: if God send ⟨p. 13⟩us advise, we cannot hear it, if consolation, we cannot receive it: thus we read, Exod. 6. 9. Moses spake unto the Children of Israel, but they hearkened not unto Moses, for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. Now all these things damnifie us, & so prevent that good which otherwise we might derive to our selves from these exercises, how sharp soever.

Use. To wave other things, let me apply this truth for the helping of our faith unto a suitable improvement of the fiery trial which any of the people of God are at this day labouring under; and which we our selves also have weighty reasons to live in the continual expectation of; that so we may not so think of it, or entertain it as a strange thing: and to that end that we may have a right judgement, and soul satisfying apprehension of it, let us diligently and prudently compare the works of Gods providence, with those intimations which are given us in his word, and it will afford us a true and a full discovery of the true meaning of these things, and that in both respects.

Use. To wave other things, let me apply this truth for the helping of our faith unto a suitable improvement of the fiery tryal which any of the people of God are at this day labouring under; and which we our selves also have weighty reasons to live in the continual expectation of; that so we may not so think of it, or entertain it as a strange thing: and to that end that we may have a right judgement, and soul satisfying apprehension of it, let us diligently and prudently compare the works of Gods providence, with those intimations which are given us in his word, and it will afford us a true and a full discovery of the true meaning of these things, and that in both respects.

1. It may satisfy us in regard of that sore persecution which is at this day upon divers of the Protestant Churches abroad: we hear of many sad and sorrowful calamities which by the malice of Satan, and rage of men, are brought upon that cause, and are ready to sit down as men amused, wondering why this is, and wherefore God suffers it, how Jesus Christ can bear it: let me assure you, it is not because God doth not own and approve of that cause; it is his own, he hath born, and will bear witness to it; it is the cause which shall stand when all other shall come tumbling down into ruin: nor is it because God hath cast off his people whom he hath chosen; for his love to his Saints is unchangeable, inviolable: nor is it because he approves of, or takes delight in the contrary prevailing interest, though they indeed make their boast of their successes, and pretend the offering up the liberties and lives of Gods people, to be a sacrifice of thanksgiving ⟨p. 14⟩therefore; no; Gods curse is on them and their cause, and in due time their foot shall slide, It is then none of these; But,

1. It may satisfie us in regard of that sore persecution which is at this day upon divers of the Protestant Churches abroad: we hear of many sad and sorrowful calamities which by the malice of Satan, and rage of men, are brought upon that cause, and are ready to sit down as men amused, wondering why this is, and wherefore God suffers it, how Jesus Christ can bear it: let me assure you, it is not because God doth not own and approve of that cause; it is his own, he hath born, and will bear witness to it; it is the cause which shall stand when all other shall come tumbling down into ruine: nor is it because God hath cast off his people whom he hath chosen; for his love to his Saints is unchangeable, inviolable: nor is it because he approves of, or takes delight in the contrary prevailing interest, though they indeed make their boast of their successes, and pretend the offering up the liberties and lives of Gods people, to be a sacrifice of thanksgiving ⟨p. 14⟩therefore; no; Gods curse is on them and their cause, and in due time their foot shall slide, It is then none of these; But,

1. The Scripture tells us of a time wherein Satan is to be let loose, in which he will rage extremely against the Church, Rev. 1•. 12. and these are some of those days wherein these things are to have their accomplishment, as relating to the persecutions which Antichrist was to raise and continue against the Saints of the most High. It is true that the rage and malice of Satan and his Instruments are always eagerly bent to ruin the Church; yet are they tied up by the Sovereign Almighty Power of God, who stilleth the noise of the seas, and the tumults of the people; yet if he please to give them leave, and lengthen their chain of restraint, as he did in Jobs case, they will vent it to the utmost of their advantage and opportunity: it is a certain truth, that Satan and his Agents have no other stint or bounds of their malice then the limits of divine permission, they ever do as much as they can, & that they do no more is because God hath an hook in their nostrils; now God doth sometimes, for ends infinitely wise, give them leave to do a great deal, and vent abundance of their spleen against his People.

1. The Scripture tells us of a time wherein Satan is to be let loose, in which he will rage extreamly against the Church, Rev. 1•. 12. and these are some of those dayes wherein these things are to have their accomplishment, as relating to the persecutions which Antichrist was to raise and continue against the Saints of the most High. It is true that the rage and malice of Satan and his Instruments are alwayes eagerly bent to ruine the Church; yet are they tyed up by the Sovereign Almighty Power of God, who stilleth the noise of the seas, and the tumults of the people; yet if he please to give them leave, and lengthen their chain of restraint, as he did in Jobs case, they will vent it to the utmost of their advantage and opportunity: it is a certain truth, that Satan and his Agents have no other stint or bounds of their malice then the limits of divine permission, they ever do as much as they can, & that they do no more is because God hath an hook in their nosthrils; now God doth sometimes, for ends infinitely wise, give them leave to do a great deal, and vent abundance of their spleen against his People.

2. God wills that at sometimes the truth be sealed to by the sufferings of his own people, as well as owned by their Profession, that he may make the fulfilling of that truth gloriously resplendent, Mat. 16. 18. The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. The truth of the Gospel is never more honoured in the World, then by faith and patience of suffering Saints; they then glorify God, and his name is magnified, when his honour, and the profession of his name, and vindication of his truth is more dear and precious to them then their own lives, and they can readily sacrifice them, in the defence of it: hereby their faith appears in its vigour, and it is seen how powerful the spirit of God in them is▪ the trial of their faith is a most precious thing, better then that of gold, ⟨p. 15⟩1 Pet. 1. 6. 7. and herein the excellency of divine love makes it self eminent, in that many waters cannot quench it.

2. God wills that at sometimes the truth be sealed to by the sufferings of his own people, as well as owned by their Profession, that he may make the fulfilling of that truth gloriously resplendent, Mat. 16. 18. The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. The truth of the Gospel is never more honoured in the World, then by faith and patience of suffering Saints; they then glorifie God, and his name is magnified, when his honour, and the profession of his name, and vindication of his truth is more dear and precious to them then their own lives, and they can readily sacrifice them, in the defense of it: hereby their faith appears in its vigour, and it is seen how powerful the spirit of God in them is▪ the tryal of their faith is a most precious thing, better then that of gold, ⟨p. 15⟩1 Pet. 1. 6. 7. and herein the excellency of divine love makes it self eminent, in that many waters cannot quench it.

3. It is certain that the Protestant Churches abroad in the World have given God a great deal of provocation, by manifold enormities and scandals that have discovered themselves shamefully amongst them. If the judgement of those be right, who conjecture the seven Churches in Asia, to whom John wrote, Rev. 2, & 3. do stand for an emblem of the various estate of the Church to the Worlds end, they seem now in these days to be fallen under the last and worst pattern, lukewarm Laodicea: it is too true and manifest, that there is but a little true zeal stirring for the glory of God; though there be abundance of formality: there is but a very little of the power of godliness to be seen, but a great many wickednesses growing and abounding: such profanation of Gods holy Sabbaths, that in many places they are disowned, and the morality of the fourth Commandment not only called into dispute, but wholly renounced; abundance of covetousness, uncleanness, profaneness, and many other provoking sins, such as an holy God, will not, cannot bear in a people that are called by his name: they therefore stood in need of a fiery trial to purge and refine them: they have gathered abundance of dirt and dross, and it is not a small fire that will burn it off, and melt it out: and therefore at such times God is wont to set up his furnace, and provide hot coals for it, cruel and bloody instruments, to execute his just displeasure upon his own people by: thus he threatens Israel in case of Apostasy, Deut. 28. 49, 50. The Lord shall bring upon thee a nation, &c. a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, and show favour to the young.

3. It is certain that the Protestant Churches abroad in the World have given God a great deal of provocation, by manifold enormities and scandals that have discovered themselves shamefully amongst them. If the judgement of those be right, who conjecture the seven Churches in Asia, to whom John wrote, Rev. 2, & 3. do stand for an emblem of the uarious estate of the Church to the Worlds end, they seem now in these dayes to be fallen under the last and worst paettrn, lukewarm Laodicea: it is too true and manifest, that there is but a little true zeal stirring for the glory of God; though there be abundance of formality: there is but a very little of the power of godliness to be seen, but a great many wickednesses growing and abounding: such prophanation of Gods holy Sabbaths, that in many places they are disowned, and the morality of the fourth Commandment not only called into dispute, but wholly renounced; abundance of covetousness, uncleanness, prophaness, and many other provoking sins, such as an holy God, will not, cannot bear in a people that are called by his name: they therefore stood in need of a fiery tryal to purge and refine them: they have gathered abundance of dirt and dross, and it is not a small fire that will burn it off, and melt it out: and therefore at such times God is wont to set up his furnace, and provide hot coals for it, cruel and bloody instruments, to execute his just displeasure upon his own people by: thus he threatens Israel in case of Apostasie, Deut. 28. 49, 50. The Lord shall bring upon thee a nation, &c. a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, and shew favour to the young.

4. There is a time of reformation expected, and waited for by the people of God, and it is hoped not to be far off; and this is the very way in which God hath purposed to bring it about: when the Lord speaks of the happy reformation of the people of the Jews, he propounds such a method as this ⟨p. 16⟩to do it in, Zech. 13. 8, 9. two parts therein shall cut off, and die, and the third part shall be left therein, and I will bring the third part through the fire, &c. Gods work of reformation, as it is a glorious, so also it is a terrible work, a work which but a few will be able to endure: it is very probable that two thirds when they come near the fire, and begin to feel it scorch, will not bear it, but seek to avoid it: and thus we hear of many thousands in France that are daily renouncing the Protestant cause, and coming over to Popery, through fear and cowardice: and the other third part they must pass through the fire that they may be reformed, that when they are tried, they may come forth as Gold: and is there any strange thing in all this? hence therefore, that we may be settled and not shaken, let us carefully build upon these conclusions.

4. There is a time of reformation expected, and waited for by the people of God, and it is hoped not to be far off; and this is the very way in which God hath purposed to bring it about: when the Lord speaks of the happy reformation of the people of the Jews, he propounds such a method as this ⟨p. 16⟩to do it in, Zech. 13. 8, 9. two parts therein shall cut off, and die, and the third part shall be left therein, and I will bring the third part through the fire, &c. Gods work of reformation, as it is a glorious, so also it is a terrible work, a work which but a few will be able to endure: it is very probable that two thirds when they come near the fire, and begin to feel it scorch, will not bear it, but seek to avoid it: and thus we hear of many thousands in France that are daily renouncing the Protestant cause, and coming over to Popery, through fear and cowardize: and the other third part they must pass through the fire that they may be reformed, that when they are tryed, they may come forth as Gold: and is there any strange thing in all this? hence therefore, that we may be settled and not shaken, let us carefully build upon these conclusions.

1. That the fiery trial is intended only to try the Saints. it is not brought to destroy them, but only to refine and purify them: were believers thoroughly persuaded of what God meaneth, by these things, they would not be so liable to those frights and amazements which distract and disturb them: our Text fortifies this conclusion, restraining them to this proper end and purpose.

1. That the fiery tryal is intended only to try the Saints. it is not brought to destroy them, but only to refine and purifie them: were believers thoroughly perswaded of what God meaneth, by these things, they would not be so liable to those frights and amazements which distract and disturb them: our Text fortifies this conclusion, restraining them to this proper end and purpose.

2. That God overrules all instruments: yea, though, as they are rational agents, and causes by counsel of their own actions, they design nothing but mischief, yet he will use them as mere instruments in his hand, not to gain their own projected ends, but his, which they neither know nor design: they shall but do his pleasure, and not their own, Isai. 10 7. Ah Assyrian! the rod of my anger: what can a rod do without an hand to manage it? no more can they but as God improves them: we look too much on men, and think their power is great, and rage implacable, and now what are we not to expect to suffer? but remember, their wrath shall but serve to praise God, and the remainder he will restrain.

2. That God overrules all instruments: yea, though, as they are rational agents, and causes by counsel of their own actions, they design nothing but mischief, yet he will use them as meer instruments in his hand, not to gain their own projected ends, but his, which they neither know nor design: they shall but do his pleasure, and not their own, Isai. 10 7. Ah Assyrian! the rod of my anger: what can a rod do without an hand to manage it? no more can they but as God improves them: we look too much on men, and think their power is great, and rage implacable, and now what are we not to expect to suffer? but remember, their wrath shall but serve to praise God, and the remainder he will restrain.

3. That Gods people, though in the furnace, are yet very precious to him; yea that he chooseth them in the furnace: ⟨p. 17⟩Israel in affliction is often tempted to say, My God hath forgotten me; but God assures us that it is far otherwise: they are then as tender to him as the sucking child is to the pitiful Mother: you see how God thus expostulates the case with Zion in this regard, Isai. 49, 14, 15, 16.

3. That Gods people, though in the furnace, are yet very precious to him; yea that he chuseth them in the furnace: ⟨p. 17⟩Israel in affliction is often tempted to say, My God hath forgotten me; but God assures us that it is far otherwise: they are then as tender to him as the sucking child is to the pitiful Mother: you see how God thus expostulates the case with Zion in this regard, Isai. 49, 14, 15, 16.