from the love of present things; which could we have quietly Enjoy'd, we should have been for building Tabernacles here. Could the Prodigal Son have fill'd his Belly with Hufks, he would never have thought of Returning to his Father; but Want and Affliction brought him from the Swine, with whom he would have ftaid, could he have got his Belly full.

3. Another Benefit we receive by Affliction is, That we are thereby Cured of our Soul-Diseases; and that too, of fuch as are otherwife almost incurable. Honours, Riches, and a Profperous Condition in the World, caufes us too often to contract those finful Habits which we never come to reflect upon, much lefs to repent of, until Affliction makes us: Therefore it is that Solomon tells us, The Rod and Reproof give Wisdom. The Story of Jofeph's Brethren is remarkable; they had fold their Brother to the Ishmaetish Merchants, and made their Father believe he was torn in pieces of Wild Beafts, and then thought all was well; and were not at all troubled that they had

fold

fold their Brother, and deceiv'd their Father: But afterwards when they went down to Egypt,& were there put in Ward, and charged as being Spies, this Affli&tion brings to their remembrance their former Ufage of their Brother Joseph, and now they cry out, We are verily guilty concerning our Brother: We faw the anguish of his Soul, when he befought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this diftrefs come upon us. Had it not been for that affliction, in all probability they had never repented of their Cruelty to Jofeph. One likeneth Afflictions to the Rod of Mofes, for as the ftriking that upon the Rock, brought forth Water; fo the Rod of Affliction often mollifieth ftony-hearted Sinners, and makes the Waters of Repentance to gush out. Another compares it to a File, for as that cleanses the Iron from its Ruft, and make it bright, So Affliction files off that Ruft of Sin, which worldly Prosperity has contracted, and makes our Graces fhine more bright and glorious. The Scripture likewife compares it to a Furnace wherein Gold is F 4 tried,

tried, and purged from all its filth and drofs, and brought to the greateft degree of Perfection. It may alfo well be compared to a Purging Potion, for as that driveth the corrupt and ill humours out of a diseased Body; fo Afflictions drive out evil Paffions and corrupt Defires and Affections out of the Soul; fuch as Pride, Vain-glory, Sloth, Nicenefs, Luft, Gluttony, Drunkennefs, and many more. And Elibu speaking to Job of the Affli&tions with which God uses to exercise his People, tells him, It is that he may with-draw Man from his Purpofe, and hidePride from him; he does indeed, fays Elihu, chaften him with Pains upon his Bed, and the multitude of his Bones with ftrong Pain; fo that his Life abborreth Bread, and his Soul dainty Meat; yea, his Sonl draweth near to the Grave, and his Life to the deftroyers: Lo these things, fays he, worketh God often-times with Man: But wou'd you know to what End? 'Tis to bring back his Soul from the Pit, to be Enlightened with the light of the Living. 4. Another Benefit of Affliction is, That

That it is a Prefervative from Evil, and keeps us from many Sins which we should otherwise run into: This is what God intends, by the Prophet Hofea, when he tells the Children of Judah, that were bent upon Idolatry,and refolved to go after their Lovers, that God wou'd prevent 'em, and put a ftop in their Way; I'll hedge up thy way with Thorns, fays God: That is, I will bring fuch afflictions upon you, as fhall be as fo many Thorns in your fides, which fhall put a stop to your Careir in Wickednefs. And this was the Experience of holy David long before: For he tells us, Pfal. cxix. 71. It is good for me that I have been Afflicted: If you ask why it was good for him, or what Benefit he found by it? He readily tells you, Verf. 67. Before I was affliEted, I went aftray; but now have I kept thy Word: And therefore instead of murmuring against God for Afflictions, he juftifies God; I know, O Lord, fays he, that thy Judgments, are just, and that in faithfulness thon haft afflicted me.

5. ANOTHER Advantage we reap

by

by Afflictions, is, That hereby God puts us upon the Tryal of our Graces: There are many that will fwim with the Tide, that won't venture when the stream is against 'em. What the Devil falfly faid of Job, is but too true of many Men, they won't ferve God for nought! When God: blesses them with the good things of this Life, and they have all that their Hearts can wish, then they will be for God, and for the Profeffion of Religion; but if he puts forth his hand, and takes away what they have, they will be like thofe that the Prophet Ifaiah speaks of, who when they are hungry, and hardly beftead, fhall fret themselves, and curfe their King and their God. And therefore Job's Conftancy under those great Afflictions, made his Piety and Patience fo much the more Illuftrious. 'Tis Affliction that fhews us which are Hypocrites, and which are fincere Christians; a fincere Christian varies not with the Times,but is femper idem,always the fame; whereas a Hypocrite is a Timeferver, and will turn with the Times, rather than be turn'd out: If Tribulation comes,