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…

5. That during all that season wherein his people are in the furnace, he sits by and tends it. He sits as a Refiner, Mal. 3. 3. sitting notes a fixed posture; intimating that God doth not only come now and then, and occasionally take notice how the fire burns, and metal melts, having mean while other things to divert and divide his care; but that he makes it his work and business to tend it, and therefore tarries constantly by it; he throws in every coal with his own hand, and not one coal more then is meet and useful for the work. He useth his skill to make it melt down, and become fit for his Mould; he humbleth his people, and reforms them by their trials, puts a virtue into them, or gives a blessing with them, whereby effectually and powerfully their corrections become instructions to them, and they are made the better by them: yea they are fitted and prepared to be taken out of the furnace again, and be vessels of honour, employed in the service of their Lord and Master.

5. That during all that season wherein his people are in the furnace, he sits by and tends it. He sits as a Refiner, Mal. 3. 3. sitting notes a fixed posture; intimating that God doth not only come now and then, and occasionally take notice how the fire burns, and mettal melts, having mean while other things to divert and divide his care; but that he makes it his work and business to tend it, and therefore tarries constantly by it; he throws in every coal with his own hand, and not one coal more then is meet and useful for the work. He useth his skill to make it melt down, and become fit for his Mold; he humbleth his people, and reforms them by their tryals, puts a virtue into them, or gives a blessing with them, whereby effectually and powerfully their corrections become instructions to them, and they are made the better by them: yea they are fitted and prepared to be taken out of the furnace again, and be vessels of honour, imployed in the service of their Lord and Master.

From hence therefore we may be directed both how and what to pray at this day in the behalf of the Persecuted Church of Christ abroad in the World.