; but the
poor servants of God are reputed unworthy of men's presence, envied and
mocked; yea, they are more vile before these proud tyrants, than is the
very dirt and mire which is trodden under foot. But in that glorious
resurrection, this state shall be changed; for then shall such as now, by
their abominable living and cruelty, destroy the earth, and molest God's
children, see Him whom they have pierced; they shall see the glory of such
as now they persecute, to their terror and everlasting confusion. The
remembrance hereof ought to make us patient in the days of affliction, and
so to comfort us, that when we see tyrants in their blind rage tread under
foot the saints of God, we despair not utterly, as if there were neither
wisdom, justice, nor power above in the heavens, to repress such tyrants,
and to redress the dolours of the unjustly afflicted. No, brethren, let us
be assured, that the right hand of the Lord will change the state of
things that are most desperate. In our God there is wisdom and power, in a
moment to change the joy and mirth of our enemies into everlasting
mourning, and our sorrows into joy and gladness that shall have no end.

Therefore, in these apparent calamities, (and marvel not that I say
_apparent_ calamities, for he that sees not a fire is begun, that shall
burn more than we look for, unless God of his mercy quench it,(10) is more
than blind,) let us not be discouraged, but with unfeigned repentance let
us return to the Lord our God; let us accuse and condemn our former
negligence, and steadfastly depend upon his promised deliverance; so shall
our temporal sorrows be converted into everlasting joy. The doubt that
might be moved concerning the destruction of those whom God exalteth,
shall be discussed, if time will suffer, after we have passed throughout
the text. The prophet, now proceeds, and saith, "Thou hast increased the
nations, O Lord, thou hast increased the nations; thou art made glorious,
thou hast enlarged all the coasts of the earth. Lord, in trouble," &c.
verses 15, 16.

In these words the prophet gives consolation to the afflicted, assuring
them, that how horrible soever the desolation should be, yet should the
seed of Abraham be so multiplied, that it should replenish the coasts of
the earth; yea, that God should be more glorified in their affliction,
than he was during the time of their prosperity. This promise, no doubt,
was incredible when it was made; for who could have