Deep things are seen by them that are upon the waters. "They that go
down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these
see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep." Indeed it
oft falls out that the church sees more of God in affliction, than
when she is at rest and ease; when she is tumbled to and fro with
waters, then she sees the works of God and his wonders in the deep.
And this makes persecution so pleasant a thing; this makes "the ark
go upon the face of the waters." She sees more in this her state,
than in all the treasures of Egypt.
Nothing is more natural to the church, while in a wilderness
condition, than such cups and draughts as the cup of the Lord's
fury, the cup of trembling, the cup of astonishment.
Hence she is said to be clothed in sackcloth, to mourn, to weep, to
cry out, and to be in pain as a woman in travail. Since the church
in the wilderness has been so persecuted, so distressed, so
oppressed, and made the seat of so much war, so much blood, and so
many murders of her children within her, can it be imagined that she
drank of more of these cups? Yes, yes, she has drunk the red wine at
the Lord's hand, even the cup of blood, of fury, of trembling, and
of astonishment; witness her own cries, sighs, tears, and
tremblings, with the cries of the widows, children, and orphans
within her.
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