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that when, upon the Emperor's firft be-S ERM. coming Chriftian, it began to receive worldly Encouragement; the Contentions among Christians multiplied, and the Purity of their Manners decreased. And in our own Nation it has been justly observed, that true Religion never had fo remarkable an influence upon mens Lives and Manners, as at fuch times when we were most apprehenfive of its being in danger to be removed from us. For this reafon God has feldom chofen to make his best Servants the most profperous in the world. The Patriarchs did but fojourn in the land of promife, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles, and confeffing that they were strangers and pilgrims in the earth; For they looked for a city which had foundations, whole builder and maker is God; Heb. xi. 9, 10. And our Saviour inculcates no one Thing so often upon his Difciples, as the Danger of worldly Eafe and Plenty, and the Bleedness of them that mourn.

YET, on the other fide, Afflictions have also their proper Temptations, to Impatience, and Difcontent, and Complaining

VOL. VI.

U

against

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SER M. against God; and Profperity, if well employed, may become the Matter of an excellent Virtue: For, Bleffed is the rich, that is found without blemish, and bath not gone after gold; that hath been tried thereby, and found perfect; that might offend, and bath not offended; or might do evil, and hath not done it, Ecclus. xxxi. 8, 10. Wherefore it is beft for us, not to be follicitous after either State; but, with all Submiffion, to leave that wholly to God; who knows, much better than we, what is moft convenient for us.

+

4thly, and Laftly; ANOTHER End of God's fending Afflictions upon men, is to try, improve, and perfect their Virtues, and make eminent Examples of their Faith and Patience. This was the cafe of Job, who was afflicted by the immediate hand of God; and this was the cafe of the Apoftes, who were permitted to be perseeuted by wicked men; and St Paul tells us concerning our Saviour himself, (Heb. ii. 10;) that he was made perfect through Jufferings. Of fuch Afflictions as these, the Scripture declares that they are to bet gloried in, because they work patience,

(Rom.

(Rom. v. 3. and Jam. i. 3;) that they fallS ER M. out unto the furtherance of the Gospel, XII. (Phil. i. 12;) that they are a trial of Faith, ww much more precious than of gold that perifbeth, though it be tried with fire, (1 Pet. i. 7.) That, by thefe, many are purified and made white and tried, (Dan. xii. 10; and xi. 35.) And having been a little chaftifed, they shall be greatly rewarded; for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself; As gold in the furnace has be tried them, and received them as a burntoffering; And in the time of their vifitas. tion they shall shine, and run to and fro like parks among the fubble; They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people; and their Lord shall reign for ever, (Wifd. iii. 5, &c.)

I SHALL but just mention two inferences, from what has been faid, and fo conclude.

AND I, From what has been faid it appears, that it is that it is a very wrong and unjust Conclufion, to imagine with Job's friends, that whoever is much afflicted, must confequently, have been very wicked, and that God is very angry with him. When U 2

a man's

SER M. a man's own confcience can apply his own XII. Affliction to his past Sins, it is indeed very

juft and reasonable, that he should accept it as the Punishment of Sin, and as Argument to Repentance; But he must by no means make another man's Affliction, an occafion of cenfuring his Neighbour; For, on the contrary, the Scripture declares, that happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore defpife not thou the chaftening of the Almighty; for he maketh fore, and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his bands make whole; Job v. 17. Blef Jed is the man whom thou chafeneft, O Lord, and teacheft him out of thy law; Pf. xciv. 12. And St James, ch. i. ver. 12; Bleed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.

2dly, FROM what has been said, there appears great Reafon, for men to refign themselves with all patience to the Will of God; and to rely upon him with full Truft and Affurance, (in all poffible circumftances of life,) that he will direct things finally to our beft advantage. Ecclus. ii. 4; Whatfoever is brought upon thee,

take

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take cheerfully; and be patient when thou SER M. art changed to a low eftate; For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adverfity. This was the practice of David; who, when he was greatly diftreffed, encouraged himself in the Lord bis God; 1 Sam, xxx. 6. And This was the Refolution of the Prophet, wherewith I shall conclude; Habbak. iii. 17; Though the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; though the labour of the olive fhall fail, and the fields fhall yield no meat; though the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the falls; Yet will I rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my Salvation,