but not consumed; He was with Daniel in the
Den of Lyons, with the three Jews in the fiery
furnace, with Jeremiah in the Dungeon, &c. And
therefore they all had such false escape. If the LORD's
Presence be with his people: then Safety is with them,
Deliverance is with them, &c. And in due time they
shall be released.
5. Finally, Because their God is most faithful. This
Reason the Apostle gives; God is faithful, who
will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but
will with the Temptation also make a way to escape, that
ye may be able to bear it.
III. How, and in what way doth God take his People
from the Pots, deliver them from their distresses and af∣flictions?
Answ. The Lord effects and brings this about, va∣riously,
and sometimes very mysteriously. As,
1. Oft-times by Transmutations of his Peoples conditi∣on.
How oft doth he literally in this life Turn, their
darkness into light, their sorrow into joy, their sickness
into health, their pain into ease, their poverty into riches,
their bondage into liberty, their adversity into prosperity,
their trouble into triumph, their miseries into mercies!
&c. As Iosephs bondage into Lordship; Iobs Pover∣ty
into double prosperity; Hezekiahs sickness into
health, &c.
2. Sometimes by disarming their afflictions and mise∣ries.
This is an excellent way: when the sting, ve∣nom,
mischief, malignity, &c. of affliction is taken
out and suspended. In such case, Gods people may be
visibly in a state of affliction, and yet un-afflicted.
As chastened, and not killed; as dying, and yet li∣ving;
as sorrowful, yet alwaies rejoycing; as having no∣thing,