them fhine with greater glory and luftre. In this light are fuch difpenfations of Providence often reprefented in fcripture, with the fame allufion as in my text; Pf. lxvi. 10. 11. and 'I Pet. i. 6. 7. In feveral refpects do times of diftrefs, according to the particular views in which they caft up to us, ferve for our trial. 1. Diftrefs of any kind, ferves to try the ftrength of our minds, how far we are fortified in the command of ourselves. This it is not easy to judge of while things go fmoothly on with us, and we meet with nothing to ruffle our temper. The proper trial of our strength is, if we can maintain a calm and eafy mind under worldly loffes, difappointments, and fufferings; if we can command the exercise of deliberate thought and reflection, and fet about our duty with compofure, amidst outward difturbances and dangers; if in these circumstances we can carry our minds fo far above the world, as to enjoy an happiness within ourselves, in the exercifes and reflections of a good heart, in the pleasures of devout meditation, in the fatisfactions of a good confcience, in the joyful fenfe of the favour of God. 2. Times of diftrefs ferve to try our faith in God, and love to him. While all things about us are quite agreeable, we may find no difficulty in maintaining the faith of a wife and good difpofer of all things. While it is well with ourselves, we may eafily believe that all is happily happily ordered; and can argue with great fatisfaction concerning troubles at a distance from us; that in these the best purposes are most effectually purfued; that they are neceffary parts of a wife connected scheme, and moft justly to be acquiefced in as the determinations of infinite wifdom. While we imme→ diately enjoy the fruits of the divine bounty, if we have any thing of thought and reflection, and are not loft to all fenfe of gratitude, we muft readily feel fome fentiments of love and affection toward our fupreme benefactor. But when trouble and distress actually comes upon us, then we are put to the trial, how far the faith of a good and wife being ordering the affairs of the world-hath taken thorough poffeffion of our hearts, and is eftablifhed in us; if we can still maintain the fame good thoughts of God, and remain firmly perfuaded, while clouds and darkness are round about him, that righteousness and judgement are ever the habitation of his throne, Pfal. xevii. 2.; if our faith of divine things is fo fixed and prevailing in us, that we can effectually apply the confolations of religion and Christianity for fupporting us in our diftreffes. When dangers are near, and furround us on all hands, then it appears what length our truft and confidence in God can go; if we can maintain this with that ftedfaftnefs which Job expreffes, Though he flay me, yet will I trust in him, Job xiii. 15. Our love to God is then tried, how far it hath obtained the command of our hearts, fo as to dispose us to take the worst things D 2 things in good part from his hand; if the fenfe of his innumerable favours can reconcile our minds to afflictions difpenfed by him, and make us feel the force of that fentiment, Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and ball we not receive evil? Job ii. 10.; if our love to God is ftrong enough to bear us out in a patient fubmiffion to whatever hardships he is pleafed to lay upon us, faying with an unshaken conftancy and refignation, It is the Lord; let him do what feemeth him good, 1 Sam. iii. 18.; Father, not my will, but thine be done, Luke xxii. 42. 3. Times of general distress or danger, ferve to try the fincerity and strength of mens friendthip. Selfish people, who, in times of general peace and profperity, could easily carry on an appearance of friendship, and exercife this in many inftances, while their own interefts were in no danger; fuch, when general distress comes, or danger threatens, are wholly taken up in fecuring and providing for themselves, and find no place in their thoughts for the concerns of others. Whereas thofe of a real good heart are never fo much swallowed up in their own particular concerns, in times of the greatest danger and diftrefs, as not to bear a friendly part with others. The fenfe of common calamity awakens their friendship the more; and, in the exereife of this, in acts of compaffion and sympathy with others, do they find their own greatest relief. 4. When we meet with trouble and disturb ance ance from the hands of men, when we fuffer by their oppreffion and violence, this ferves particularly to try the strength of our humanity, and how far the generous principles of Christianity prevail with us, fo as to bear down fierce refentment, how far we are able to preferve our minds from being overcome of evil, Rom. xii. 21. and to maintain a patient and forgiving temper of mind towards our enemies, and thus to triumph over their wickednefs and ill-nature. 5. When we are particularly expofed to hardships and perfecutions in a stedfast adherence to truth and goodness, and in following the just dictates of reafon and confcience, this proves a ftrong trial to the fincerity and strength of our virtue. Many who have heard the word with joy, Matth. xiii. 20. 21. who have felt an impreflion of divine truths, and have for a time been fomewhat influenced by them in their practice, when tribulation or perfecution arifeth because of the word, on account of true. religion, are by and by offended, and make shipwreck of faith and a good confcience. Then is the time for us to fhew whether our appearances of goodness have been any more than a matter of conveniency with us, which muft yield to the different turns of our worldly intereft; if religion hath truly taken poffeffion of our hearts, and is become a commanding principle within us; how far the love of truth and goodness prevails with us; if confcience and honesty can have force enough to over come the interests and terrors of this world; if a regard to God, if the faith of things future and invisible, hath fuch command over us, as to conquer the fear of men, and of all the external evils they can inflict. When the principles we have profeffed in a time of eafe and tranquillity, are like to lead us into danger, or to expofe us to inconveniencies, this puts the foundness of our hearts to the trial, whether or not we are settled in our principles upon reasonable grounds, and have the honesty of heart to follow them stedfastly in our practice at all hazards. 6. When the interests of the public fuffer, or are in danger, when its valuable concerns, facred and civil, are threatened, this ferves to try the fincerity and ftrength of mens public affection; how far they are ready to fhew this, by exerting themfelves vigorously, and runing all hazards of life and fortune in the public caufe; whether their former pretences of zeal for public intereft have been any more than words, or artful methods to raise themfelves, or carry on the defigns of a faction; whether all their former zealous appearances for liberty, have been meant to help forward the fecret plots and contrivances of the enemies of their country, whom they are ready to join with more openly whenever their defigns are ripe for execution; or if an honest concern for fecuring the liberties of their country, will now appear with double warmth for the prefervation of them, when threatened |