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scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? which prevented his being scourged.-Acts xxii. 24-26. 29. xvi. 37, 38.

worship not, ye shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.— Dan. iii. 14, 15. 18.

Daniel cast into the lions' den for praying to God contrary to the king's decree.-Dan. vi. 7, &c.

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time.-Amos v. 13. Ps. xxxix. 1.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, &c. falsely for my sake, &c. for righteousness' sake.-Matt.v.10,11.

Paul said to Ananias, Sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? &c. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; of the hope and resurrection of the When they charged the apostles dead, I am called in question (where- not to teach in Christ's name, they upon the council divided, and broke said, Whether it be right in the sight up). When Paul understood that of God to hearken unto you more there was a conspiracy to kill him, than unto God, judge ye; for we he gave notice thereof to the chief cannot but speak the things which captain, who conveyed him away from we have seen and heard.-Acts iv. them.-Acts xxiii. 3. 6-9. 14, &c. 17-20. Paul pleaded in his defence before Felix; and afterward appealed unto Cæsar. Acts xxiv. 10, &c. xxv. 8, 9. xxvi. 1, &c.

Paul persuaded those in the ship to eat meat, when they were in danger, saying, This is for your health, &c.-Acts xxvii. 33-35.

The high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name? &c. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.—Acts v. 27-29.

But in all things approving ourselves, &c. as deceivers, and yet true. -2 Cor. vi. 4. 8.

I beseech you, brethren, &c. that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may If I yet preach circumcision, why be delivered from them that do not do I yet suffer persecution? then is believe in Judea.-Rom. xv. 30, 31. the offence of the cross ceased.—Gal. Alexander the coppersmith did me v. 11. vi. 12. much evil, &c. of whom be thou aware also, for he hath greatly withstood our words.-2 Tim. iv. 14, 15.

Some, of whom the world was not worthy, wandered in deserts, and in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.-Heb. xi. 38.

V. To look to the cause of our Sufferings, that it be for well doing, for the sake of Christ, and a good Conscience and not as Busybodies or Evildoers.

They also that render me evil for good, are mine adversaries: because follow the thing that is good.-Ps. xxxviii. 20. xxxv. 20. cix. 4, 5.

Do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image? &c. but if ye

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, &c. So is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, &c. This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.-1 Pet. ii. 12. 15. 19.

If ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid, &c. It is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.-1 Pet. iii. 14. 17.

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, &c. but let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other mens' matters: yet

if any suffer as a Christian, let him be shewed from his friend. Job not be ashamed.-1 Pet. iv. 14-16. vi. 14.

Amos v. 13.

THIRDLY. The Duties of Others: and how we ought to behave toward such as are Afflicted and Persecuted.

To sympathize with them, visit, help, comfort, and pray for them: take

heed we add not to their Trouble. THE heart knoweth his own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.-Prov. xiv. 10. When Abraham heard that his brother Lot was taken captive, he armed (or led forth) his trained (or instructed) servants, &c. and pursued those who took Lot: and he smote them, &c. and he brought back all the goods; and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods and the women also, and the people.-Gen. xiv. 14-16.

When David fled from Saul into a wood, Jonathan went to him, and strengthened his hand in God.1 Sam. xxiii. 15-17.

When Nehemiah had heard that the Jews were in great affliction and reproach (though he were then a servant to the king): he sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven, &c.-Neh. i. 2, &c. Jer.ix. 1.

Thou shalt not vex a stranger, nor oppress him, &c. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.Exod. xxii. 1. 22.

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When Job's three friends heard of all the evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place, &c. for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him, and to comfort him. They wept.-Job ii. 11–13.

Thou hast strengthened the weak hands; thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.-Job iv. 3, 4.

To him that is afflicted, pity should

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Job answered and said, I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are ye all (or troublesome comforters are ye all)! shall vain words have an end? &c. I also could speak as ye do, if your souls were in my soul's stead; I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you: but I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief. Job xvi. 1-5.

How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? these ten times have ye reproached me: you are, &c. He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me: my kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me: they that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am an alien in their sight, &c. have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.Job xix. 2, 3. 13—15. 21. Ps. Ixix. 8. 20.

How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood (or transgression)? -Job xxi. 34.

Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me: they have also let loose the bridle before me, &c. Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor? Job xxx. 11. 25.

Blessed is he that considereth the poor (or sick), &c. the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing, &c.-Ps. xli. 1-3.

God is said to be afflicted in the afflictions of his people.-Isa. Ixiii. 9. Jeremiah bemoans Judah's sad case

at large, and discovers the tender made) of the church unto God for compassion he had for them.-Lam. him.-Acts xii. 5. 12. i. ii.

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Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, &c. Ye that put far away the evil day, &c. that lie upon beds of ivory, &c. but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.-Amos vi. 1. 3-7.

I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.-Zech. i. 15. Obad. 11-14.

When Jesus saw the multitude, he had compassion on them, because they fainted (or were tired and laid down), &c.-Matt. ix. 36.

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep: be of the same mind one toward another. -Rom. xii. 15, 16.

The members should have the same care one for another: and whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it: now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.1 Cor. xii. 25—27.

Blessed be God, &c. who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.-2 Cor. i. 3, 4.

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.-Gal. vi. 2.

Be kind one to another, tenderhearted.-Eph. iv. 32.

I was an hungered, and ye gave Ye have done well that ye did comme meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me municate with mine affliction, &c. drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Ye sent once and again unto my me in; naked, and ye clothed me; necessity.Phil. iv. 14—16. Isa. I was in prison, and ye came unto lviii. 10. me: I was sick, and ye visited me, &c. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.-Matt. xxv. 35-37.40.

When Jesus had put forth the parable of a man fallen among thieves, and wounded, and the priest and Levite passing by, and looking on him; and had mentioned that the Samaritan had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, and took care of him; he said, Go, and do thou likewise.Luke x. 30-37.

Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke xxii. 31, 32

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing (or earnest and instant prayer was

Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) bowels of mercies.-Col. iii. 12.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, &c. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: but when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me: the Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day; and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.-2 Tim. i. 8. 16-18.

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.-2 Tim. iv. 16.

Ye endured a great fight of afflictions: partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock, both by reproaches

up by the roots out of my land, which I have given them, &c.-2 Chron. vii. 19, 20.

and afflictions: and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used; for ye had compassion on me in my bonds, &c.-Heb.x.32-34. The Lord stirred up against JehoBe not forgetful to entertain stran- ram the spirit of the Philistines, and gers for thereby some have enter- of the Arabians, &c. and they came tained angels unawares. Remember up into Judah, and brake into it, &c. them that are in bonds, as bound with 2 Chron. xxi. 16, 17. 2 Kings them and them that suffer adver- xxiv. 2, 3. sity, as being yourselves also in the body.-Heb. xiii. 2, 3.

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They mocked the messengers of God, &c. till the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy: therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men, &c.— 2 Chron. xxxvi. 15-17.

Affliction cometh not forth of the dust, &c. he maketh sore and bindeth up.-Job v. 16. 18. ix. 12.

He turned their heart to hate his servants.-Ps. cv. 25. people, and to deal subtilely with his

He gave them into the hand of the heathen: and they that hated them ruled over them.-Ps. cvi. 41, 42. xliv. 10-14. lx. 10. Lam. ii. 17.

O Assyrian, &c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, &c. to tread them down, &c.-Isa. x. 5, 6.

Behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth.-Isa. xxvi. 21.

GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, &c. And the Lord said, I will destroy man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth, &c. And behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh, &c. Accordingly he brings the flood.-Gen. Ye scornful men, &c. when the overvi. 5.7. 17. vii. 4. Job xxxvii. 11-13. flowing scourge shall pass through, The Lord rained upon Sodom, and then ye shall be overthrown by it, upon Gomorrah, brimstone and fire &c. I have heard from the Lord from the Lord out of heaven: and God of hosts a consumption deterhe overthrew those cities.-Gen. xix. mined upon the whole earth.-Isa. 24, 25. xxviii. 14, 15. 18. 22.

God said, I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall not let the people go.-Exod. iv. 21. xiv. 4. Josh.

xi. 20.

See now that I am he, and there is no God with me: I kill, and I make alive: I wound, and I heal; neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. Deut. xxxii. 39.

God's anger was hot against Israel, therefore he left their enemies amongst them. Judges ii. 20-23.

If ye turn away and forsake my statutes, &c. then will I pluck them

Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord; he against whom we have sinned?-Isa. xlii. 24. Ezek. xxxix. 23, 24. Job xii. 23.

I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.-Isa. xlv. 7.

I was wroth with my people: I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand, &c. therefore shall evil come upon thee, &c. thou shalt not be able to put it off, &c.-Isa. xlvii. 6. 11. Jer. xlvi. 15.

I have forsaken mine house: I have left mine heritage: I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies.-Jer. xii. 7-10.

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it: if that nation, &c.-Jer. xvii. 7, 8.

O thou sword of the Lord, &c. how can it be quiet seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon? &c.-Jer. xlvii. 6, 7.

Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger?-Lam. i. 12, &c. iii.

Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?-Amos iii. 6.

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, &c.-Amos iv. 12.

to deliver them, &c.—Exod. iii. 7,8. Acts vii. 34.

God smote the Egyptians universally in the destruction of their firstborn. But he said, Against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast, &c. The plague shall not be upon you.-Exod. xi. 5—7. xii. 13.

The Lord shall judge his people, &c. when he sees that their power is gone.-Deut. xxxii. 36. 2 Kings xiv. 26.

Elijah and the widow fed in the time of the famine.-1 Kings xvii.

God said to Josiah, Thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace, and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.--2 Kings xxii. 20.

In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword; at destruction and famine thou shalt laugh.-Job v. 20. 22. Ps. xxxiii. 18, 19.

Before these days there was no, Though the earth be moved, &c. &c. neither was there any peace to There is a river, the streams wherehim that went out or came in, because of shall make glad the city of God, of the affliction: for I set all men &c. God is in the midst of her, &c. every one against his neighbour.--Ps. xlvi. 2-6. Zech. viii. 10.

SECT. II. The Privileges of the Righteous, and Servants of God, in Times of Calamity.

WHEN God destroyed the whole world by the flood, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and he and his family were saved in the ark.-Gen. vi. 8. 17, 18. vii. 1, &c.

God would have spared Sodom, for the sake of ten righteous persons. -Gen. xviii. 32.

In the destruction of Sodom, Lot was preserved and all his, and sent out by the angel, from the overthrow, and escaped. Gen. xix. 12, 13. 15 -17.

Jacob and his family nourished by Joseph in the great famine.-Gen. xlvii. 12, 13.

I have surely seen the affliction of my people, &c. and I am come down

Thou shalt not be afraid, &c. nor for the pestilence, &c. nor for the destruction, &c.-Ps. xci. 5-7. xxxvii. 18, 19.

Despise not the chastening of the Lord: neither be weary of his correction.-Prov. iii. 11, 12.

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself, &c. until the indignation be overpast: for behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth, &c.-Isa. xxvi. 20, 21.

The whole land shall be desolate, yet will I not make a full end.—Jer. iv. 27. v. 18. Isa. xvii. 4—6. Ezek. vi. 8. xi. 16.

For my name's sake will I defe mine anger, &c. that I cut thee not off, &c. for my name's sake, &c.— Isa. xlviii. 9. 11.

Run ye to and fro through the

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