Yes, Look I pray into the 24. of Isaiah, Answ. and the 15. verse. Wherefore (says he) glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the Name of the Lord God of Israel in the Isles of the Sea. Glorify ye the Lord in the fires; so ye read it. Some rather translate it thus: Glorify ye the Lord in Doctrines, Urim, the same word that we translate, Urim, for the Urim and Thummim: But I would rather translate it Valleys; so Calvin: for Doctrines does not suit with that which follows: Glorify ye the Lord in the Valleys, even the Name of the Lord God of Israel in the Isles of the Sea. A Valley is a low place, and dark: now (says he) though ye be in a dark condition, removed from light; Glorify the Lord in the Valleys, glorify the Lord there. And good reason why the Saints should do so: as ye will see, if you look into the 1. of Zechariah, and the 8. verse. I saw by night, and behold, a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom, and behind him were there red horses, speckled and white. This man upon a red horse plainly must be meant Christ: who is here attended with red horses, speckled and white, to send forth, and dispatch into ⟨p. 308⟩the several parts of the world upon his design. These other red horses, they are behind him, waiting upon him: Now where is Christ? He is among the myrtle-trees: And where are the Myrtle-trees? They are in the bottom. The Saints, and people of God for their fruitfulness they are called Myrtle-trees, and sometimes their condition is as a Valley; they are in the bottom; but yet they are Myrtle-trees in the bottom, and Jesus Christ is among these Myrtle-trees though they be in a bottom, though they be in a Valley: and therefore no wonder that we should praise, and glorify God in this condition. Beloved! what we may rejoice in, that we may praise God for:1 Now, says the Apostle, Let the brother of low-degree rejoice in that he is exalted: and let the brother of high degree rejoice in that he is made low: Rejoice in Tribulation. A man is to rejoice more for the opportunity of exercising grace, than in all prosperity: there are some graces that cannot be exercised but in Tribulation, cannot be exercised in Heaven; Patience, and the like. Now then, when Tribulation comes, a Christian should thus look upon it.
Yes, Look I pray into the 24. of Esay, Answ. and the 15. verse. Wherefore (saies he) glorifie ye the Lord in the fires, even the Name of the Lord God of Israel in the Isles of the Sea. Glorifie ye the Lord in the fires; so ye reade it. Some rather translate it thus: Glorifie ye the Lord in Doctrines, Ʋrim, the same word that we translate, Ʋrim, for the Urim and Thummim: But I would rather translate it Valleyes; so Calvin: for Doctrines does not sute with that which follows: Glorifie ye the Lord in the Valleyes, even the Name of the Lord God of Israel in the Isles of the Sea. A Valley is a low place, and dark: now (saies he) though ye be in a dark condition, removed from light; Glorifie the Lord in the Valleyes, glorifie the Lord there. And good reason why the Saints should do so: as ye will see, if you look into the 1. of Zachary, and the 8. verse. I saw by night, and behold, a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom, and behind him were there red horses, speckled and white. This man upon a red horse plainly must be meant Christ: who is here attended with red horses, speckled and white, to send forth, and dispatch into ⟨p. 308⟩the several parts of the world upon his design. These other red horses, they are behind him, waiting upon him: Now where is Christ? He is among the myrtle-trees: And where are the Myrtle-trees? They are in the bottom. The Saints, and people of God for their fruitfulnesse they are called Myrtle-trees, and sometimes their condition is as a Valley; they are in the bottom; but yet they are Myrtle-trees in the bottom, and Jesus Christ is among these Myrtle-trees though they be in a bottom, though they be in a Valley: and therefore no wonder that we should praise, and glorifie God in this condition. Beloved! what we may rejoyce in, that we may praise God for:1 Now, saies the Apostle, Let the brother of low-degree rejoyce in that he is exalted: and let the brother of high degree rejoyce in that he is made low: Rejoyce in Tribulation. A man is to rejoyce more for the opportunity of exercising grace, than in all prosperity: there are some graces that cannot be exercised but in Tribulation, cannot be exercised in Heaven; Patience, and the like. Now then, when Tribulation comes, a Christian should thus look upon it.
- 1Jam. 1.9, 10. Rom. 5.3
