Psalms 66:10

Psa 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

Ver. 10. For thou, O God, hast proved us ] Non ut ipse sciat sed ut scire nos faciat, saith Austin. God proveth his people, not thereby to better his own knowledge of them, John 2:25 ; John 6:6 ; Joh 21:17; Acts 1:24 , but to bring them to a better knowledge of their own both vices and graces. It is not known what corn will yield till it come to the flail; nor what grapes, till they come to the press. Grace is hid in nature, as sweet water in rose leaves; the fire of affliction fetcheth it out.

Thou hast tried us as silver ] The wicked also are tried, Revelation 3:10 , but they prove reprobate silver, Jeremiah 6:28 ; Jeremiah 6:30 , or, at best, as alchemy gold, that will not bear the seventh fire, as Job did, Job 23:10 .