to him, and then put him upon that great trial of his faith. So the disciples; it was commanded them that they should "tarry in Jerusalem till they were endowed with power from on high." The Lord knew what a hard providence they were likely to have, and what great oppositions and difficulties they must encounter in publishing the everlasting gospel to the world; and therefore first prepares and endows them with power from on high, with eminent measures of the gifts and graces of the Spirit; as faith, patience, self-denial. So Paul had first his revelations, then his buffetings.

3. In coming in so opportunely in the time of their great distress, with relief and comfort. "Then the Spirit of glory and of God resteth on them;" As a martyr cried out to his friend Austin, at the very stake, "He is come, he is come.",

4. In appointing and ordering the several kinds of afflictions to several saints, and allotting to every one that very affliction, and no other, which is most suitable to his condition: which afflictions, like so many medicines, are prepared for that very malignant humor that predominates most in them. Peter's sin was self-confidence, God permits him to fall by denying Christ; which doubtless was sanctified to his good in that particular. Hezekiah's sin was vain-glory, therefore spoilers are sent to take away his treasures.

5. In the duration of their troubles; they shall not lie always upon them. Our God is a God of judgment; Is. xxx. 18; knows the due time of removing it, and is therein punctual to a day; Rev. ii. 10.

Reflection.If the wisdom of God do thus triumph and glorify itself in the distresses of the saints, why should I fear in the day of evil? Why does my heart faint at the foresight and apprehension of approaching trouble? Fear none of those things that thou shalt suffer, O my soul. If thy God will thus be with thee in the fire and water, thou canst not perish. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, yet let me fear no evil, whilst my God is thus with me. Creatures cannot do what they please; his wisdom limits and overrules them all to gracious and sweet ends. If my God cast me into Div.

No. XVII.

U

the furnace to melt and try me, yet I shall not be consumed there; for he will sit by the furnace himself all the while I am in it, and curiously look into it, observing when it has done its work, and then will presently withdraw the fire. O my soul, bless and adore this God of wisdom, who himself will see the ordering of all thine afflictions, and not trust it in the hands of men or angels.

CHAPTER XXIX.

The Depths of the Sea.

Observation.-THE ocean is so deep, that no eye can discover what lies in the bottom thereof. What lies there, lies obscure from all eyes but the eyes of God.

Application. Thus are the judgments of God and the ways of his providence profound and unsearchable. "Thy righteousness is like the great mountains, thy judgments are a great deep;" that is, his providences are secret, obscure, and unfathomable; but even then and in those providences, his righteousness stands up like the great mountains, visible and apparent to every eye. Though the saints cannot see the one, yet they can clearly discern the other, Jer. xii. 1. Jeremiah was at a stand; so was Job in the like case, Job xii. 7; so was Asaph, Psal. lxxiii; and Habakkuk, i. 3. These wheels of providence are dreadful for their height; Ezek. i. 18. There are deep mysteries of providence, as well as of faith. It may be said of some of them, as of Paul's epistles, that they" are hard to be understood." Darkness and clouds are round about the throne of God. No man can say what will be the particular issue and event of some of his dispensations. Luther seemed to hear God say to him, when he was importunate to know his mind in some particular providence, I am a God not to be traced. "His way is in the sea, his paths in the great waters, and his footsteps are not known." Who can trace footsteps in the bottom of the sea? angels have their hands under their wings." The hand

"The

is either the symbol of strength, or the instrument of action: where these hands are put forth, they work effectually, but very secretly; they are hid under their wings. There are some of God's works that are such secrets, as that they may not be inquired into; they are to be believed and adored, but not pryed into, Rom. xi. 33. Others may be inquired after, but yet are so profound, that few can understand them; "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all those that have pleasure therein," Psal. cxi. 2. When we come to heaven, then all these mysteries, as well in the works as in the word of God, will lie open to our view.

Reflection.-O then why is my heart disquieted, because it cannot sometimes discern the way of the Lord, and see the connexion and dependence of his providen tial dispensations? Why art thou so perplexed, O my soul, at the confusions and disorders that are in the world? I know that goodness and wisdom sits at the stern; and though the vessel of the church be tossed and distressed in times of trouble, yet it shall not perish. Is it not enough for me that God has condescended so far for my satisfaction, as to show me plainly the ultimate and general issue of all these mysterious providences? Unless 1 am able to take the height of every particular, shall I presume to call the God of heaven to account? Must he render a reason of his ways, and give an account of his matters to such a worm as I am? Be silent, O my soul, before the Lord. Subscribe to his wisdom, and submit to his will whatsoever he does. However it be, yet God is good to Israel; the event will manifest it to be all over a design of love. I know not how to reconcile them to each other, or many of them to the promise; yet are they all harmonious, and the certain means of accomplishing the promises. O what a favor is this, that in the midst of the greatest confusions in the world, God has given such abundant security to his people. that it shall be well with them; Amos ix. 8; Eccles. vili. 12.

CHAPTER XXX.

The Multitudes that the Sea has swallowed

up.

Observation.—WHAT multitudes of men has the sea devoured! Thousands have made their graves in it. What numbers of men have been ingulphed together in sea-fights, or storms, or inundations! Certainly the

dead which are there, are innumerable.

Application.-But though the sea has received so many thousand bodies of men into its devouring throat, yet it is not the absolute lord or proprietor of them, but rather a steward intrusted with them, till the Lord require an account of them; and then it must deliver up all it hath received, even to a man. "And I saw the

dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the book according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it," Rev. xx. 11, 12.

The doctrine of the resurrection of the body is a doctrine full of singular consolations to believers, and most clearly asserted in scripture. And it is well for us that this point is so plainly revealed; because as it is a most comfortable truth to the people of God, so there is scarcely any truth that lies under more prejudice, as to sense or reason, and is more difficult to be received, than this is. The Epicureans and Stoics laughed Paul to scorn when he preached it to them. And, indeed, if men set up reason as the only judge of supernatural things, it is incredible to think, that a body should be restored that has been burnt to ashes, and those ashes scattered in the wind; or when drowned in the sea, and there devoured by several fishes, and those again devoured by others. But yet this is not to be objected to the almighty power of God, that gave them their first being. Difficulties and impossibilities are for men, but not for him. "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?"

Reflection. And must I rise again? Then, Lord, how am I concerned to get union with Christ whilst I live! It is only by virtue thereof that my resurrection can be made comfortable and blessed to me. Let my body lie where it will, in earth or sea; let my bones be scattered, and flesh devoured by worms or fish; I know thou canst, and wilt reunite my scattered parts; and in this body I must stand before thine awful tribunal, to receive according to what I have done therein. Thou that commandest me to stand forth amongst the noblest rank of creatures, when I had no being, and sawest my substance, being yet imperfect, canst as easily reduce me to that being again. What though reason vote it impossible, and sense incredible? Though all these difficulties and incumbrances grow upon my faith, yet I know my body is not lost for ever; the sound of thy last and dreadful trumpet, shall awaken me; and thy mighty power, to which all things are possible, shall bring me before thy bar.

O Lord, I know that I shall stand in that great assembly at the last day, when multitudes, multitudes, even all the sons and daughters of Adam, shall appear together. O if I die ungodly, it were good for me that there were no resurrection; for then those eyes which have been windows of lust, must behold Christ the Judge, not as a Redeemer, but as a Revenger. That tongue which has vented so much of the filthiness of my heart, will then be struck speechless before him; and this flesh which I have so pampered and provided for, will be condemned to everlasting flames. O my God, let me make sure work for such a day. If I now get real union with thy Son, I shall awake with singing out of the dust; and then, as thou saidst to Jacob, so wilt thou say to me, when I go down into the sea, or grave, "Fear not to go down into the deep; for I will surely bring thee up again."