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Smart, we blefs the fkilful Hand, that inflicts the Wound. Surely then we should bear as willingly, at least, the Chaftenings of the Lord, and neither faint nor murmur when we are rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth, he chafteneth; and Scourgeth every Son, whom he receiveth°.

The worldly Advantages, that we have wished for in vain, might not only have failed to produce in us a due Senfe of Gratitude towards God, which alone would have been heinous Guilt, but might have tempted us to Irregularities, to Pride, to injurious Behaviour, to a ruinous Choice of the good Things of this Life for our Portion: whereas the Uneafineffes and Sorrows, that we groan under, may fecure us from vicious Courses, may teach us Humility and Compaffion, may raise our Affections above earthly Objects. Before I was afflicted, faith the Pfalmift, I went aftray: but now have I kept thy Word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy Statutes. No Chaftening for the prefent, faith the Apostle, feemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterwards, it

• Héb. xii. 5, 6.

VOL. V.

S

› Pf. cxix. 67, 71.

yieldeth

yieldeth the peaceable Fruits of Righteousness unto them, which are exercifed thereby. If Men be bolden in Cords of Affliction, faith Elihu in Job, then God fheweth them their Work, and their Tranfgreffions, that they have exceeded: he openeth their Ear to Difcipline; and commandeth, that they return from Iniquity. If they obey and ferve him, they shall spend their Days in Profperity, and their Years in Pleasure'.

Whatever makes us better, will ordinarily make us happier even now. For our Faults and Follies are what usually bring on our Troubles and in that Cafe Amendment is the likeliest Way to remove them, and pre

vent more. mere Consciousness of Amendment will administer no small Confolation. And as there is very commonly pitiable Wretchedness hid under fhewish Profperity, fo there may be fweet Tranquillity of Mind under fore Calamities. In the Multitude of the Sorrows, that I had in my Heart, thy Comforts have refreshed my Soul. Innocence gives great Joy in the Midst of Sufferings: why may not Piety, fuperadded to Innocence or to Penitence, give

Or fuppofe it proves otherwise,

Heb. xii. 11.

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Job xxxvi. 8-!I,

• Pf. xciv. 19.

greater?

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greater? Few, alas, are qualified for fuch Feelings; and therefore the Mention of them may seem strange: but as they are perfectly rational, we may justly, on the Authority of Scripture, believe God to excite and strengthen them in devout Minds to fuch a Degree, as to make them abundantly an Over-balance to the heaviest Preffures of this Life. Or if they be not, the Chriftian Temper, formedand cultivated within us by the Means of these Preffures, will fit us for higher Rewards in the Life to come. So that indeed the Burthens, which our Maker lays upon us, are intended by him, who knoweth our Frame, and whereof we are made', as a requifite Preparation for our trueft Good: that we may ftrengthened with all Might, according to his glorious Power, unto Patience and long Suffering with Joyfulness; and give Thanks unto the Father, who maketh us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light". Were we but influenced by this Confideration as we ought, we should fay to God with pleafing Wonder, what Job faith by Way of discontented Expoftulation. What is Man, that thou fhouldeft magnify him thus; that thou

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Shouldeft

Shouldeft fet thine Heart upon him; that thou fhouldeft vifit him every Morning, and try him every Moment w ?

But supposing the Trials we undergo, should not improve our Virtues at all, yet they must be deemed a very fevere Exercife of them: and even were fuch Exercise to impair fome of them a little; provided it be not through undutiful Misbehaviour under them, but merely from Weakness, contrary to our Wills and best Endeavours, undoubtedly every single Circumstance of our Cafe will be equitably confidered in our Favour. It is true, our most laborious Service hath no Merit in it: but through the unmerited Goodness of God, if we endure Hardness as good Soldiers of Jefus Chrift, we fhall be plentifully recompenfed by the Captain of our Salvation". For, as St. Paul triumphantly expreffes it, All Things are for our Sakes, every Difpenfation of Providence is defigned to increase our future Blesfednefs, that the abundant Grace may, through the Thanksgiving of many, redound to the Glory of God. For our light Affliction, which is but for a Moment, worketh for us a far more ex-.

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* Job vii. 17, 18.

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* 2 Tim. ii. 3.

y Heb. ii. 10..

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ceeding and eternal Weight of Glory ". Therefore let us, like him, as well as we can, rejoice in Tribulations: knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience; and Patience, Experience; and Experience, Hope; and Hope maketh' not afhamed.

Still we are by no Means to run, either wilfully or carelessly, into unneceffary Troubles; or expose ourselves by Indolence and Neglect to unneceffary Loffes, Failures, and Disappointments for under fuch we have no Promife that Heaven will fupport us, or make us the least Compensation for them. But when the Hand of Providence brings them on, God is faithful, who will not fuffer us to be tempted above that we are able: and fince he will also reward us for bearing what he ftrengthens us to bear, well may we count it all Joy, when led by him, we fall into divers Temptations.

Joy of this Kind indeed, will unavoidably be mixed, in our weak Natures, with an Allay of Uneafiness, and probably no small one. But be it ever fo great, were it enough to extinguish for the prefent all Feeling of Pleafure and Thankfulness intirely; yet we may

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