er, in my promise; and so shall they perceive that my
indignation shall pass, and that such as depend upon me shall be saved.

Thus we may perceive the meaning of the prophet; whereof we have first to
observe, that God acknowledges them for his people who are in the greatest
affliction; yea, such as are reputed unworthy of men's presence are yet
admitted within the secret chamber of God. Let no man think that flesh and
blood can suddenly attain to that comfort; and therefore most expedient it
is, that we be frequently exercised in meditation of the same. Easy it is,
I grant, in time of prosperity, to say, and to think, that God is our God,
and that we are his people; but when he has given us over into the hands
of our enemies, and turned, as it were, his back unto us, then, I say,
still to reclaim him to be our God, and to have this assurance, that we
are his people, proceeds wholly from the Holy Spirit of God, as it is the
greatest victory of faith, which overcomes the world; for increase
whereof, we ought continually to pray.

This doctrine we shall not think strange, if we consider how suddenly our
spirits are carried away from our God, and from believing his promise. So
soon as any great temptation apprehends us, then we begin to doubt if ever
we believed God's promise, if God will fulfil them to us, if we abide in
his favour, if he regards and looks upon the violence and injury that is
done unto us; and a multitude of such cogitations which before lurked
quietly in our corrupted hearts, burst violently forth when we are
oppressed with any desperate calamity. Against which this is the
remedy--once to apprehend, and still to retain God to be our God, and
firmly to believe, that we are his people whom he loves, and will defend,
not only in affliction, but even in the midst of death itself.

Again, Let us observe, That the judgments of our God never were, nor yet
shall be so vehement upon the face of the earth, but that there has been,
and shall be, some secret habitation prepared in the sanctuary of God, for
some of his chosen, where they shall be preserved until the indignation
pass by; and that God prepares a time, that they may glorify him again,
before the face of the world, which once despised them. And this ought to
be unto us no small comfort in these appearing dangers, namely, that we
are surely persuaded, that how vehement soever the tempest shall be, it
yet shall pass over, and some of us shall be preserved