N00264:39
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 Charlstown, February…
The fiery trial no strange thing; delivered in a sermon preached at Charlestown, February 15. 1681. Being a day of humiliation: / by Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New England. ; [Four lines of quotations]The fiery tryal no strange thing; delivered in a sermon preached at Charlstown, February 15. 1681. Being a day of humiliation: / by Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New England. ; [Four lines of quotations]
printed for Samuel Sewall, 1682
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. By this also he separates the dross from the good metal: when the dirt is removed away the metal indeed looks brighter, and makes a fairer show, but yet there is a great deal of dross and dregs in it, which render it less precious, and more unserviceable, but the fire melts that out, separates it, and leaves the rest by far more pure: there may possibly be abundantly less of it, but that which is, is of a great deal more value; the people of God themselves have much of dross and corruption cleaving to them; and that especially in times of outward peace and prosperity, but when God brings a fiery trial upon them, it refines and purgeth them: this is the very design of God in these dispensations, Isai. 27.9. By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and all the fruit is to take away sin. And chap.1.25. I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away thy tin.
2. By this also he separates the dross from the good mettal: when the dirt is removed away the mettal indeed looks brighter, and makes a fairer shew, but yet there is a great deal of dross and dregs in it, which render it less precious, and more unserviceable, but the fire melts that out, separates it, and leaves the rest by far more pure: there may possibly be abundantly less of it, but that which is, is of a great deal more value; the people of God themselves have much of dross and corruption cleaving to them; and that especially in times of outward peace and prosperity, but when God brings a fiery tryal upon them, it refines and purgeth them: this is the very design of God in these dispensations, Isai. 27.9. By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and all the fruit is to take away sin. And chap.1.25. I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away thy tin.
3. Yea, and by this too, he melts down the good metal: the fire prepares and fits the metal by melting to take any form, to be cast into any mould which the Founder designs: by sore afflictions the people of God are made more humble, and made pliable to any Command of God: they are sometimes stiff and inflexible in days of prosperity, but now they subject themselves to the framing hand of God, and are ready to receive his stamp and impression,