Troubles, and which make a great Difference between their Afflictions and those of other Men. If we compare their outward Croffes with the spiritual Privileges and Benefits they are made Partakers of, and with their inward Comforts arifing from the Light of God's Countenance, from the Communications of his Grace and Spirit, and from the peaceful Teftimony of a good Confcience, and especially from the Hopes of éternal Glory and Felicity, I fay, if we balance the Advantages arifing from these Things against their outward Croffes, it will appear that the former are much fuperior to the latter. Nor would good Men under the most afflictive Circumftances exchange Conditions with the most profperous wicked Man upon Earth.

Not

It must be owned indeed, that in Times of fevere Perfecution, fome of the beft of Men have been expofed to Sufferings which human Nature is fcarce able to bear. only have they endured the spoiling of their Goods, and been branded with the most odious Calumnies, but they have been fubjected to the most grievous Pains and Torments which the bitterest Rage and Malice could inflict, and have at length been put to a cruel and ignominious Death, not for any Evil they were guilty of, but for their fteady Adherence to the Caufe of Truth

and

and Righteousness. But it must be confidered, that God hath very wife Ends in fuffering fuch Perfecutions. They tend to the purifying his Church, and to the exercifing the Faith and Patience of the Saints, and rendering it more illustrious. They fhew the Reality and divine Energy of Religion, and the Strength and Prevalency of its Principles and Motives. They also tend mightily to the Honour and Advantage of the Sufferers themselves, who have frequently experienced fuch divine Confolations and Joys, as have enabled them to triumph in their fharpeft Sufferings, and have rendered them far happier than their cruel and infolent Perfecutors. To which it must be added, that their Reward in Heaven shall be proportionably more glorious. For this is what we muft always have in View, when we are confidering the prefent Afflictions and Sufferings of good Men, that there is a Happiness prepared for them in a future State, which fhall infinitely tranfcend all their Sufferings. And of this we have the fullest Affurance given us in the Gospel Revelation. And it furnisheth a full and fatisfactory Answer to all that can be objected against the Righteousness of Divine Providence, with regard to the Afflictions and Adverfities to which good Men are exposed

exposed here on Earth. They are defigned to form them into a Meetnefs for that future Glory, and to heighten their heavenly Reward. And shall those Things be complained of, that shall have fuch a happy and glorious Iffue? We may justly reckon with the great Apoftle St. Paul, that the Sufferings of this prefent Time are not worthy to be compared unto the Glory which shall be revealed.

Thirdly, As the Afflictions and Sufferings of the righteous, fo alfo the Profperity of the wicked hath been frequently urged, to fhew that this World is not under the Government of a wife and righteous Providence. The worst and vileft of Men, instead of being punished as they deserved, and as might be expected under a just Administration, have often been placed in very advantageous and flourishing Circumstances, poffeffed of large Treasures, and exalted to high Honours and Dignities, to the Wonder and Envy of all that beheld them.

But upon a careful Confideration it will appear, that this furnisheth no proper Objection against the Righteousness of Divine Providence.

It hath been already fhewn that wicked Men are often in a very miferable and calamitous Condition even here on Earth, VOL. I.

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and that fuch is the prefent Constitution of Things, that in the ordinary Course of human Affairs, Wickedness, Injustice, and Diffoluteness of Manners, tend to bring great Evils on those that practise them. It is alfo certain, that God frequently executeth his Judgments in a very remarkable Manner thofe that have distinguished themselves by great and uncommon Wickedness, especially upon bloody Perfecutors, impious and audacious Scoffers and Blafphemers, cruel and infolent Oppreffors; fo that those who have obferved, have been led to fear, and to declare the Work of God, and wifely to confider of his Doings. Pfal. lxiv. 9. and have acknowledged, that verily there is a God that judgeth in the Earth; and that the Lord is known by the Judgment which he executeth. Pfal. ix. 16. But it cannot be denied that it alfo frequently happeneth, that wicked and ungodly Men are in very profperous and fplendid outward Circumftances, and have a large Affluence of the good Things of this prefent World.

And with regard to this I would first observe in general, that it is no way proper or fitting that all wicked Men and wicked Actions should be immediately punished in this prefent State. For this would change the very Nature of this State of

Trial and Difcipline, and confound it with a State of Judgment. The Righteousness of Divine Providence fhould be now exercifed in fuch a Manner as to preserve the World, and not to deftroy it. Whereas, if Punishments were immediately to follow every wicked Perfon and evil Action; if God did not bear with Sinners, nor Men bear with one another, which in that Cafe they would look upon themselves to be under no Obligation to do; this World would become a mere Shambles, a Place of utter Defolation and Mifery. Where would be the Exercise of divine Mercy? or what Space would be left for Repentance? And yet it is certain that many who have been bad Men, and done wicked Actions, have afterwards reformed, and fome of them have proved remarkably good and useful. God's bearing with Sinners in this present State of Trial, and even conferring many Benefits upon them, fheweth the Riches of his Goodness, and Patience, and Long-fuffering, and that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all fhould come to Repentance. And it hath a Tendency alfo to form them to a merciful forgiving Temper towards one another. Profperity is one Way of trying Perfons as well as Adverfity. And will any fay, that it is never proper that bad Men fhould be thas tried? If the Way A a 2

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