saints in light. But this is by no means the case: On the contrary, God may increase the knowledge of ourselves to any degree, and increase in the same proportion the knowledge of himself and the experience of his love. And in this case, there would be no "desert, no misery, no forlorn condition;" but love and peace and joy gradually springing up into everlasting life.
IV. 1. For what ends then, (which was the fourth thing to be considered) does God permit heaviness to befal so many of his children? The apostle gives us a plain and direct answer to this important question; That the trial of their faith, which is much more precious than gold that perisheth though it be tried by fire, may be found unto praise and honour and glory, at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ver. 7. There may be an allusion to this, in that well-known passage of the fourth chapter (altho' it primarily relates to quite another thing, as has been already observed:) Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, but rejoice that ye are partakers of the sufferings of Christ: That when his glory shall be revealed, ye may likewise rejoice with exceeding great joy, ver. 12, &c.
2. Hence we learn, that the first and great end of God's permitting the temptations which bring heaviness on his children, is the trial of their faith, which is tried by these, even as gold by the fire. Now we know, gold tried in the fire,
