Now that this truth may be capable of ufe SERM. (which is the main thing I design upon it) it is XI. neceffary that I do these two things in the general; namely,

FIRST, That I ftate this truth; and then,
SECONDLY, Give you the grounds of it.

FIRST, I fhall state this truth, or fhew you how it is to be taken and understood. And here we have two things to open to you; namely, the object of that judgement, which is here directed to be made, and then the nature of it, The opening of these two things concerning the judgement we are to make of afflictions, which good men are exercised withal, will take up the whole of the bufinefs that is needful by way of explication; fo as that you may have the diftinct ftate of the matter before you.

I. I SHALL confider the object of the judgement here to be made; that is, the truth of this propofition, that afflictions laid upon us for the fake of trial are matter of joy. And this is the thing to be judged: as indeed in any proper act of judgement, a propofition is ftill the object; wherein one thing is affirmed, or denied of another. And the truth of this propofition is the thing to be judged; that afflictions, fuch afflictions or temptations as the Apostle speaks of, are really matter of joy. Therefore it is neceffary that we open to you, this propofition as the VOL. II. object

M

VOL. object of the judgement here to be made. ParII. ticularly that we,

I. CONSIDER what is fuppofed here to be matter of joy; namely afflictions, for the fake of trial. Then,

2. WE fhall open to you that which is affirmed, or fuppofed, concerning temptations; namely, that they are matter of joy. And then,

3. THE manner of the agreement of the one of thefe, to the other.

1. LET us confider what it is that is fuppofed by the Apostle to be matter of joy; namely, temptations, or afflictions for trial's fake. Not any man's afflictions, but thofe that befal a Chriftian; not any afflictions of a Chriftian neither, but those which are laid upon him for the fake of trial, as the word used in the text doth plainly import. For it is one very well known, and very useful and neceffary distinction of afflictions, that they are either corrective, even unto the people of God; or else tentative. This is not a diftinction of afflictions confidered in their natures, but taken from the end thereof; for in their natures they may be the very fame, as the afflictions of good men and bad men may be.

DIVERS temptations are mentioned: which implieth not only multitude, as to number; but variety, as to kind. There may be the same kinds

Η πειρασμούς.

kinds of them inflicted, for either the one or SER M. other of those ends. So that the diftinction I XI. mention to you is not of their natures, but it is taken from something extrinfecal; as the end of any thing is extrinfecal to the thing itself. GOD doth fometimes lay on afflictions to try, and sometimes to correct or chastise his people. The principle of thofe afflictions, that are for the fake of correction, is difpleasure and paternal juftice; which God doth exercise upon his own family, and among his own children. And they have been wont, as indeed they ought, fo to underftand the matter. Thus fays the Prophet Micah, in the name of the people; I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have finned against him. And his anger is fometimes faid to fmoke, and continue long to do fo; as several expreffions in Scripture, that I might turn to, import. But when the afflictions are to try, the principle thereof is not displeasure; but wisdom, and fovereign good pleasure. In this cafe, I fay, they are to be refolved into wife and holy fovereignty; not anger, as their principle.

Now it is concerning afflictions fo defigned, or directed to this end, namely for trial, that the attribute here in the text must be understood; that is, that they are matter of all joy, and are to be fo accounted. And because we must take the ftate of the fubject, fo as to understand the Apostle speaking not of punitive, but tentative afflictions, as fuch; therefore we are a little more concerned

M 2

Micah vII. 9.

VOL. concerned to inquire in every cafe, how we may

II.

be able to discern when any affliction, or series of afflictions, are brought upon the people of GOD, or upon a particular perfon, for the fake of trial. For the ftrefs of the whole business lies upon the right understanding of this matter, and is the main thing we have to do in stating of the truth before us.

In order to it therefore, you must know that though these two notions of afflictions, to wit, corrective and tentative, are very diftinct; yet we are not to fuppofe that they are always to be feparated. It is very poffible that an affliction,' or a state of affliction, may come upon a good man for both these ends at once; but it is impoffible that both these ends should, at any time, be principal. When both these ends do fall in together, fo that afflictions are sent both to correct, and also to try; yet ftill one of them only is the principal end, and it is from thence that the denomination is to be taken. As for inftance; that affliction is to be called tentative, or that ftate of affliction is to bear the name of temptation or trial, when this appears to be the chief end, which God defigned and aimed at, in ordering such a state of things to be the lot of his people, or of this or that perfon. But when the principal end appears to be their chastisement, then they are to be accounted corrective afflictions; or punishments, and judgements, as these expreffions are also used with refpect to the people of GOD.

BUT

BUT yet it may be faid, "How fhall weS ER M. " know which end is principal, when an afflic- XI. ❝tive condition comes to be the lot of any of "God's people?”

THIS cafe cannot be very diftinctly and particularly spoken to now, for that would take up all our time. I fhall only fay this one thing to it at prefent, which is very plain and clear; and I doubt not fatisfactory to every one, that seriously attends to it. When the people of GoD, who are in a ftate of affliction, have been and ftill are in a declenfion, as to matters of religion; or when this and that perfon can reflect, that they have been guilty of fome very great enormity, fome more notable tranfgreffion, and an affliction befals them: why, truly, in this cafe they have all the reafon in the world to look upon this affliction as punitive; that is, as principally defigned for correction. But if the ftate of the Church of GOD, when fuch an afflicted condition falls out to be their lot, is spiritually good; that is, if they have been for fome time in a better condition than ordinary, or under no very obfervable delinquency and decay in their fpiritual state; then the courfe of afflictions, which they at fuch a time fall under, is chiefly tentative; or to be reckoned as fent principally for the fake of trial.

AND truly if we look into the afflictions which befel the people of GoD in common, at different ages, you will find, by what you have recorded in the Old Teftament, concerning the Church in thofe

M 3