Proposition 2

Proposition 2.

Upon the trials of God, good men come forth as gold.

There is that in gold, which good men may be compared to. We read in Deuteronomy 1:1 about the mountains of Dizahab: that is, the golden mountains; because gold was probably dug from there. The churches of God in the world, are such mountains of gold. Every true believer is a rich lump of gold before the Lord. Of such persons it is said in Lamentations 4:2, they are the precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold. There are diverse properties in gold, which a good man will have a blessed resemblance of. I should offer you not gold, but hay and stubble if I should read you here a lecture of metallogy, or discourse to you all that I could philosophize about this king of metals. Let me only touch on a few common reflections, as now,

Gold is a pure metal. Hence we read near some scores of times in the sacred Scripture, about pure gold. It will not readily admit a mixture or an alloy with more imperfect metals; unless with silver: especially the dust-gold of Guinea, gold whereof Job says, it is dust of gold: wonderful is the purity thereof! Thus a good man is a pure man; he is one of those that are called in Matthew 5:8, the pure in heart: he is pure in his ends, pure in his principles, pure in his practices, pure from the dross of lust: and he is not so much nominally as really, a Puritan.

Again, gold is a ductile metal. It is marvellously extensible when beaten into leaves; it were incredible to tell how far one grain of gold may be extended and continued. So dense and compacted, and united, are the parts of it, that an ounce of it may be beaten (I suppose) into a thousand leaves. Thus a good man can be drawn forth into large expressions of goodness and virtue. It was said by such an one in Psalm 11:3, my goodness extends. He extends his piety, his charity, he extends his influence far and near; and he is a diffusive good.

Once more, gold is a beautiful metal. It is called, Aurum, for that very cause; ab Aura, that is, a Splendore. It is a shining and glittering thing; and hence things that are very splendid, are said to be covered with yellow gold. For this reason, an hook of it once caught [illegible] by the lust of the eye. Thus, a good man has a transcendent beauty in him. To such an one, it was said in Canticles 6:4, you are beautiful. There is a lustre on the face, and a lustre in the walk of such a man; he has even the splendor of a light in the world.

Furthermore, gold is a durable metal. Though the Bible affirms that it is corruptible, and [illegible], and perishing, yet there is a mighty strength to be ascribed to it. It will endure the hottest fire with small or no diminution, and Aqua-fortis itself will not eat into it. Such an enduring thing is a good man. His character is that in Matthew 24:13, he shall endure to the end. No fire, no water, no vexation shall consume his devotion. He is the overcomer, whom neither the flattery nor the fury, neither the frowning nor the fawning of any tempter can dissolve the religion of.

Moreover, gold is a ponderous metal. Even lead itself in its weight, is to gold as far short as sixty is of an hundred; if I mistake it not. Such is the quality, such the gravity of a good man. A godly man is a weighty man. It is said in Proverbs 12:26, a righteous man is more excellent than his neighbor. One such man will weigh down multitudes and myriads of other men. His being a pondering man, it soon makes him become a ponderous man. His unconverted neighborhood may own of him, you are worth ten thousand of us.

Finally gold is a precious metal. It is precious for the use which it is of in nature. Rich cordials and medicines are to be extracted from it. It is precious also for the price which it is of in esteem; the Auri sacra fames, the unhallowed appetite which men crave it with, prefers it above all common things. It is in Scripture-phrase a precious thing indeed, of which it might be said, it is more precious than gold. But of a good man might such a thing be spoken: it may be said of such a man, as in Isaiah 13:12, the man is more precious than fine gold; even than the golden wedge of Ophir; (that is, Peru, as some with much pretense of reason do conjecture it). A gracious man, is a precious man; all beholders ought to put a value upon him; he is even, precious in the eyes of the Lord.

Thus like to gold will good men come forth, under and after the trials of the Lord; which comprehends these two conclusions in it.