Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity,…

Now God may be said to call forth his People to suffer, when he so hedgeth them in by Providence, that there is no way to escape suffering, but by sinning; whatsoever Providence labours with such a Dilemma as this, is a plain signification of Gods Will to us in that case. We may not now expect Extraordinary Calls to Suffering-work, as some of the Saints had of old, Gen. 22.2. Acts 9.16. but when our way is so shut up by Providence, that we cannot avoid Suffering, but by stepping over the Hedge of the Command, God will have us look upon that Exigence as his Call to suffer: And if the Reasons be demanded, why the Lord who is so inclined to Mercy, doth so often hedge in his own People by his Providence in a suffering Path; let us know, that in so doing he doth both 1. Illustrate his own Glory. And 2. Promote his Peoples happiness.

First, Hereby the most Wise God doth illustrate the glory of his own Name, clearing up the righteousness of his ways by the sufferings of his own people: By this the world shall see that how well soever he loves them, he will not indulge or patronize their sins; if they will be so disingenuous to abuse his favours, he will be so just to make them suffer for their sins, and by those very Sufferings will provide for his own glory, which was by them Clouded in the eyes of the world. He hates not sin a jot the less because it is found in his own people, Amos 3.2. and though for the magnifying of his Mercy he ⟨p. 11⟩will pardon their sins, yet for the clearing of his Righteousness he will take vengeance upon their inventions, Psal. 99.8.