pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.— Jer. xxxi. 20. I see four men walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt: and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.-Dan. iii. 25. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? &c. Mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled, &c.-Hosea xi. 8. The Lord is good, a strong hold (or strength) in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him.— Nahum i. 7. I am very sore displeased, &c. for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.-Zech. i. 15. He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil, &c.-Zech. ii. 8, 9. The very hairs of your head are all numbered, &c. He that receiveth you receiveth me, &c.- Matt. x. 30. 40. 42; xviii. 5, 6. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, &c. I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat, &c. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, &c. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, &c. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in naked, and ye clothed me not: sick and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, &c. then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. -Matt. xxv. 34-37. 40-45. Better a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, &c. than that he should offend one of these, &c.-Luke xvii. 1, &c. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, &c. heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? and he said, Who art thou, Lord? and the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick, &c.-Acts ix. 1-5; xxvi. 14, 15. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall affliction, distress, persecution? &c. nothing shall, &c.-Rom. viii. 35, 36. 38. We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.-Eph. v. 30. We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are; yet without sin.-Heb. iv. 15; ii. 18; v. 2. Cons. VIII. That the greater the Afflictions and Distresses of the Righteous have been, the more astonishing have their Deliverances been; and then hath Salvation appeared in their extremity. WHEN Lot was taken prisoner and carried away, and all his goods, God by Abraham wonderfully recovered all, and brought him back again.Gen. xiv. 11-16. Joseph's strange deliverance out of the prison and pit.-Gen. xli. Hagar is in such distress for her child, for want of water, that she lays it down, and leaves it, that she might not see it die, and sits far off weeping; then God speaks to her by the angel and God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, &c.Gen. xxi. 14-20. Jacob's deliverance from Esau, &c. and his recovering Joseph, when he | Amalekites, and his men spake of When the Egyptians oppressed most, and made Israel's burdens heaviest, insomuch that they despaired, then God came, and made known himself, and said to Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do unto Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, &c. I have also heard the groanings of the children of Israel, &c. I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage; and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm, and with great judgments, &c.-Exod. v; vi. 1-7. And God did so deliver them, after he had shewed many wonders upon the Egyptians, and smote their firstborn.-Exod. xiii. 21. When Pharaoh and his host pursued Israel, so that they reckoned themselves lost, and were in great distress, then the angel of God which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them, &c. between the camp of the Egyptians and them; and the Lord divided the waters while Israel passed through, and there drowned all the Egyptians. -Exod. xiv. 10-12. 16, &c. When Israel wanted bread in the wilderness, God rained manna, and the quails came up.-Exod. xvi. The Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left.-Deut. xxxii. 36. He often did so with Israel. Judges throughout, and 2 Kings xiv. 26. David was in frequent danger from Saul, yet God did wonderfully deliver him.1 Sam. xxiii. 26-28; xxiv; xxvi. When David was in great distress, because Ziklag was burned, his wives, and the wives of his followers taken away, and all their substance, by the by the counsel of Ahithophel in the When David was in great danger time of Absalom's rebellion, God overthrew his counsel by the counsel of Hushai, and so marvellously preserved David.-2 Sam. xvii. 1, &c. time of famine, God commanded the When Elijah fled from Ahab in a ravens to feed him, &c. and the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, &c. when the brook dried up, God sent him to a widow to sustain him; when her meal was nounced, The barrel of meal shall reduced to a handful, the Lord pronot waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the Lord sendeth rain. 6, 7. -1 Kings xvii. 1-17; Gen. xlv. bel, and had requested of God that of the prophets was in distress, be- to take Elisha, God marvellously deWhen the Syrians came to Dothan livered him from their hands. When Samaria was besieged, and in great in it, God on a sudden makes the distress by reason of the sad famine them in their camp, and so relieved Syrians fly, and leave plenty behind his people.-2 Kings vi; vii. When Jerusalem was in sore dis- battle was before and behind them; overcame their enemies, and slew | forth his hand, and caught him, and five hundred thousand chosen men.- saved him.-Matt. xiv. 28-31. 2 Chron. xiii. 14-18. God delivered the afflicted Jews by Nehemiah in a wonderful manner. -Neh. i. 2, 3; ii. When the Jews were, by Haman's procurement, appointed to slaughter, and the decree was just ready to be executed, and they greatly distressed and helpless; then God appeared and delivered them in a marvellous manner.-Esth. i. 19, 20; iii; vi; vii. Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.-Ps. iv. 1. When the Psalmist had reckoned up the sad state God's people had been reduced to, he saith, Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, like a mighty man, &c. and he smote his enemies in the hinder part, he put them to a perpetual reproach.-Ps. lxxviii. 65, 66. Thou turnest man to destruction: and sayest, Return, ye children of men.-Ps. xc. 3. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.--Ps. cxxvi. 1. God slew the Assyrians, and saved Judah when they were low.-Isa. xxxvi; xxxvii. God delivered Jeremiah out of the dungeon, when ready to perish.-Jer. xxxviii. 6, 7. 10, &c. So when Jerusalem was taken, God delivered Jeremiah.-Jer. xxxix. 11 -14; iv. 1-3. I will heal thee, &c. because they called thee an outcast, saying, This is Zion whom no man seeketh after: thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents. Jer. xxx. 17, 18. God preserved his servants Daniel, &c. when in the fire, and in the lions' den, and delivered them.-Dan. iii; vi. God delivered Jonah, when cast into the sea, by a fish.-Jonah i. 15. 17; ii. 10. When Peter through unbelief was sinking in the sea, Christ stretched When the apostles were put into the prison, the angel of the Lord brought them forth.-Acts v. 18, 19. Peter being imprisoned, in order to his being brought forth to the people, and being fettered and lying between two soldiers; the angel of the Lord came, &c. saying, Arise: the chains fell off; the iron gate opened of its own accord: he is delivered.Acts xii. 1-12. When Paul and Silas were thrust into the inner prison, and their feet fast in the stocks, God made the foundations of the prison to shake, and the doors were opened, and the Lord delivered Paul and Silas.—Acts xvi. 23, 24. 26. 29, 30. 39. Paul, when the Jews went about to kill him, was delivered by the captain, &c. Acts xxiii. 12, &c. Paul and his company strangely saved in their voyage by sea, and shipwreck. Acts xxvii. Cons. IX. That Afflictions and Per secutions shall redound to the benefit of God's Children. JACOB's and Joseph's affliction proved for the advantage of both.-Gen. xxxvii; xli—xlvii. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now, &c. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, &c.-Ps. cxix. 67. 71. They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy; he that goeth forth and weepeth, &c.-Ps. cxxvi. 5, 6. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.-Eccles. vii. 2, 3. By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged: and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin.-Isa. xxvii. 9. Ephraim's chastisement was greatly for his good.-Jer. xxxi. 18-20. I will bring the third part through the fire, &c. they shall call on my name, and I will hear them, I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God.-Zech. xiii. 9. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, &c. rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.Matt. v. 11, 12; 2 Cor. iv. 17. Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.-Matt. xvi. 25; John xii. 25. Every one that hath forsaken houses, &c. for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.-Matt. xix. 29; Luke xviii. 29, 30; Heb. x. 34-36. Blessed are ye that hunger now, for ye shall be filled: blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall laugh. Luke vi. 21. If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together for I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, &c. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.Rom. viii. 17, 18. 28. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.-2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. ad In nothing terrified by your versaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition: but to you of salvation, and that of God.-Phil. i. 28. It is a righteous thing with God, to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you: and to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord, &c.-2 Thess. i. 6, 7. Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.-Heb. x. 34. Moses, &c. chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, &c. esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches, &c. for he had respect unto the recompense of reward.Heb. xi. 24—26. Now, no chastening for the present, &c. nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness. -Heb. xii. 11. The trying of your faith worketh patience, &c. blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life.-James i. 3. 12. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord.-James v. 11. Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye: for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.-1 Pet. iv. 13, 14. These are they which came out of great tribulation, &c. therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne, shall dwell among them, &c. the Lamb shall feed them, &c. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.-Rev. vii. 13-17; xx. 4. 6. See the ends of God's afflicting his people in this chapter, Cons. 5. Cons. X. That God will not always suffer his Children to be under Afflictions and Persecutions; but will bring Deliverance and restore Joy. THOUGH Joseph was hated, sold, and imprisoned, yet God did deliver him at last.-Gen. xxxvii; xxxix-xli. After Israel had been long and sorely oppressed and afflicted by the Egyptians, the Lord sent Moses for their deliverance; and said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters, &c. and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land, unto a good land. CHAP. XX. AND PERSECUTIONS. Exod. iii. 7-10; vi. 1-8; 1 Sam. | their troubles, &c. many are the afflicix. 15, 16; Exod. ii. 24, 25. tions of the righteous, but the Lord Yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not I waited patiently for the Lord, cast them away, neither will I abhor them to destroy them utterly, &c. &c. he brought me out of an horrible but I will, for their sakes, remember pit, out of the miry clay, and set my the covenant, &c. I am the Lord.-feet upon a rock, &c.-Ps. xl. 1, 2. Levit. xxvi. 44, 45. is For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, power when he seeth that their gone, &c. he will be merciful unto his land, &c.-Deut. xxxii. 36. 43; 2 Kings xiv. 26, 27. So did God often for his people Israel. Judges iii; iv, &c. I will for this afflict the seed of David; but not for ever.-1 Kings xi. 39. He maketh sore and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.-Job v. 18, 19. low, God brings his servants very and then delivers them.-Job xxxiii. 19, &c. And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends; also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.-Job xlii. 10. Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.-Ps. iv. 1. The needy shall not always be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.-Ps. ix. 18. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble, &c. to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress, (or terrify.)-Ps. x 17, 18; exlvi. 7-9; Prov. xxii. 22, 23. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that (would ensnare him, or) puffeth at him.-Ps. xii. 5. Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, &c. for his anger endureth but for a moment: in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.-Ps. xxx. 4,5. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.-Ps. 1. 15; xlvi. 1. Thou who hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depth of the earth: thou - Ps. lxxi. shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. 20, 21. : I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.-Ps. lxxxv. 8. peoThe Lord will not cast off his ple; neither will he forsake his inheritance.-Ps. xciv. 14; 1 Sam. xii. 22. The Lord is merciful and gracious, &c. he will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever.-Ps. ciii. 8, 9. 13, 14; Jer. iii. 12. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and we are escaped.-Ps. cxxiv. 7. The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous, lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.-Ps. cxxv. 3. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream, &c. They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy: he that goeth forth and weepeth, &c. shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, &c.— Ps. cxxvi. 1, 2.5, 6. The Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.-Ps. cxxxv. 14. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.-Ps. exlvii. 3. For yet a very little while, and the |