Right thoughts in sad hours representing the comforts and the duties of good men under all their afflictions; and particularly, that one, the untimely death of children: in a sermon delivered at Charls-town, New England; under a fresh experience of that calamity.
         Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728.
      
       
         
           1689
        
      
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             Right thoughts in sad hours representing the comforts and the duties of good men under all their afflictions; and particularly, that one, the untimely death of children: in a sermon delivered at Charls-town, New England; under a fresh experience of that calamity.
             Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728.
          
           [6], 54, [2] p.
           
             printed by James Astwood,
             London :
             1689.
          
           
             Dedication signed: C.M., i.e. Cotton Mather.
             The final leaf contains "Extract of a letter", signed: E.T.
             Extract of a letter.
             Reproduction of the original in the Union Theological Seminary, New York, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
           Consolation -- Sermons -- Early works to 1800.
           Death -- Sermons -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           Right
           Thoughts
           in
           Sad
           Hours
           ,
           Representing
           the
           COMFORTS
           and
           the
           DUTIES
           OF
           Good
           ●en
           under
           all
           their
           AFFLICTIONS
           ;
           And
           Particularly
           ,
           That
           one
           ,
           the
           Untimely
           Death
           of
           CHILDREN
           IN
           A
           SERMON
           DELIVERED
           At
           
             Charls-town
             ,
             New-England
          
           ;
           under
           a
           fresh
           Experience
           of
           that
           Calamity
           .
        
         
           Unto
           the
           Upright
           there
           ariseth
           LIGHT
           in
           Darkness
           .
        
         
           Mercatur
           a
           est
           Pauca
           amittere
           ,
           ut
           majora
           Lucreris
           .
           
             Tertul.
             
          
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             Iames
             Astwood
          
           .
           1689.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           TO
           My
           very
           Worthy
           Friend
           ,
           Mr.
           S.
           S.
           
        
         
           
             Ever
             Honoured
             Sir
             ,
          
        
         
           THE
           Ensuing
           Sermon
           ,
           delivered
           in
           a
           Neighbour-Congregation
           ,
           under
           Afflicting
           impressions
           from
           the
           
             sudden
             Death
          
           of
           an
           
             only
             Child
          
           ,
           with
           a
           bestowal
           of
           some
           Correction
           and
           Enlargement
           since
           upon
           it
           ;
           I
           know
           no
           fitter
           Person
           than
           Your self
           ,
           to
           Present
           unto
           ;
           Your Self
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           Who
           have
           had
           several
           Infants
           carried
           hence
           unto
           the
           
             Father
             of
             Spirits
          
           ,
           in
           the
           Chariot
           of
           the
           same
           Distemper
           that
           fetched
           mine
           away
           .
           Books
           or
           Thoughts
           on
           such
           a
           Subject
           as
           that
           which
           is
           handled
           here
           ,
           have
           been
           often
           offered
           by
           me
           unto
           
           others
           ,
           that
           were
           Mourners
           ;
           and
           being
           made
           a
           Mourner
           my self
           ,
           I
           thought
           it
           a
           fit
           occasion
           for
           me
           ,
           to
           Write
           as
           well
           as
           Think
           more
           particularly
           ,
           the
           things
           that
           may
           be
           serviceable
           to
           the
           sorrowful
           .
           Nor
           have
           I
           many
           Friends
           in
           this
           Evil
           World
           ,
           whose
           Edification
           I
           can
           pursue
           with
           more
           Alacrity
           and
           Activity
           ,
           by
           such
           pains
           as
           these
           ,
           than
           Yours
           .
           I
           have
           often
           felt
           the
           Power
           ,
           and
           almost
           as
           often
           the
           Sweetness
           of
           that
           perswasion
           ,
           
             My
             God
             will
             never
             hurt
             me
             .
          
           Vnto
           Your self
           ,
           that
           I
           may
           recommend
           the
           entertainment
           of
           that
           Comfort
           and
           Co●dial
           ,
           under
           the
           Death
           of
           so
           many
           dear
           Children
           as
           you
           have
           been
           call'd
           unto
           the
           Resignation
           of
           ,
           is
           the
           end
           of
           my
           putting
           these
           Meditations
           into
           your
           Hands
           .
           I
           cannot
           without
           some
           Affection
           read
           
             Gregory
             Nazianzen
          
           ,
           in
           his
           Funeral
           Oration
           on
           the
           Death
           of
           his
           Brother
           ,
           giving
           this
           account
           of
           his
           Aged
           and
           then
           Living
           Parents
           ;
           
             My
             Father
             and
             Mother
          
           ,
           (
           says
           he
           )
           
             who
             are
             both
             Lovers
             of
             their
             Children
             ,
             but
             more
             Lovers
             of
             their
             Saviour
             ,
             after
             they
             had
             in
             spite
             of
             all
             
             the
             Moths
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             Thieves
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             Devils
             too
             in
             this
             World
             ,
             laid
             up
             in
             a
             better
             World
             ,
             a
             Rich
             Inheritance
             for
             their
             Children
             ,
             they
             have
             now
             sent
             one
             of
             their
             Sons
             before
             ,
             to
             take
             Possession
             of
             it
             .
          
           If
           your
           Modesty
           and
           Humility
           will
           not
           permit
           me
           to
           recite
           this
           as
           a
           Charecter
           of
           ,
           let
           me
           however
           propound
           it
           as
           an
           Employment
           for
           Your self
           ,
           and
           your
           Virtuous
           Consort
           .
           You
           cannot
           use
           too
           much
           care
           to
           secure
           unto
           your
           Children
           an
           
             Inheritance
             among
             the
             Saints
             in
             Light
          
           ;
           and
           for
           those
           which
           are
           departed
           ,
           you
           may
           be
           joyfully
           assured
           ,
           That
           they
           are
           made
           
             partakers
             of
             that
             Inheritance
          
           .
           What
           further
           possession
           of
           this
           Waste
           Wild
           America
           ,
           the
           Lord
           Iesus
           may
           take
           yet
           before
           the
           Time
           
             of
             the
             Restitution
             of
             all
             things
             ,
          
           we
           cannot
           
             Positively
             say
          
           ;
           only
           we
           may
           
             probably
             hope
          
           ,
           that
           he
           has
           a
           Glorious
           Interest
           shortly
           to
           be
           erected
           and
           maintained
           in
           these
           
             utmost
             parts
             of
             the
             Earth
          
           .
           But
           this
           I
           am
           sure
           of
           ,
           There
           are
           some
           
             rich
             plots
          
           of
           Ground
           in
           this
           Continent
           ,
           which
           in
           the
           Approaching
           
           Day
           of
           God
           will
           yield
           no
           small
           Sheaves
           of
           pure
           Grain
           unto
           the
           Almighty
           
             Raiser
             of
             the
             Dead
          
           .
           This
           last
           Age
           has
           produced
           in
           these
           Western
           Indies
           ,
           those
           Dormitories
           ,
           which
           are
           fill'd
           with
           precious
           Dust
           ,
           united
           unto
           the
           Son
           of
           God.
           Part
           of
           that
           Honour
           able
           Dust
           hath
           proceeded
           from
           your
           happy
           Loins
           ;
           Your
           deceased
           Children
           are
           part
           of
           the
           Turf
           ,
           with
           which
           the
           Lord
           Iesus
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           takes
           a
           Livery
           and
           Seisin
           of
           this
           New
           World
           for
           himself
           .
           Sir
           ,
           Be
           encouraged
           to
           go
           on
           ,
           
             abounding
             in
             the
             Work
             of
             the
             Lord
          
           ;
           and
           go
           on
           ,
           to
           believe
           it
           your
           Felicity
           ,
           That
           you
           shall
           
             go
             to
             your
             glorifi'd
             Infants
          
           ,
           and
           
             they
             shall
             not
             Return
             unto
             you
             .
          
        
         
           
             With
             these
             Testimonies
             of
             Respct
             ,
             I
             am
             ,
             Sir
             ,
             Your
             Affectionate
             Friend
             and
             Servant
             ,
             
               C.
               M.
            
             
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           Right
           THOUGHTS
           IN
           Sad
           Hours
           ,
        
         
           
             Gen.
             XLII
             .
             36.
             
          
           
             Me
             have
             ye
             bereaved
             of
             my
             CHILDREN
             ;
             Joseph
             is
             not
             ,
             and
             Simeon
             is
             not
             —
             all
             these
             things
             are
             AGAINST
             me
             .
          
        
         
           THE
           common
           ,
           but
           causeless
           mistake
           of
           Pious
           Men
           ,
           under
           and
           about
           Afflictions
           ,
           is
           represented
           in
           these
           Words
           ;
           of
           which
           words
           the
           venerable
           Chrysostom
           in
           his
           Ancient
           Commentary
           on
           them
           ,
           speaks
           truly
           ,
           
             They
             are
             fit
             words
             to
             express
             the
             Relenting
             Bowels
             of
             a
             Parent
          
           ;
           and
           yet
           we
           may
           without
           ill
           manners
           venture
           to
           add
           ,
           
             The
             words
             do
             not
             altogether
             
             so
             well
             become
             the
             Grace
             ,
             the
             Faith
             ,
             the
             Patience
             of
             a
             Christian.
             
          
        
         
           In
           this
           Book
           of
           the
           
             Worlds
             Beginning
          
           ,
           which
           contains
           an
           admirable
           Narrative
           of
           Transactions
           for
           above
           Three
           and
           twenty
           Hundred
           Years
           from
           the
           first
           Dawn
           of
           Time
           ;
           the
           Revolutions
           which
           went
           over
           the
           Patriarch
           Iacob
           ,
           are
           not
           the
           least
           spoken
           of
           by
           Moses
           ,
           the
           Inspired
           Historian
           ;
           and
           there
           are
           especially
           Three
           Travels
           of
           that
           renowned
           Man
           ,
           which
           the
           
             History
             of
             his
             Life
             and
             Death
          
           is
           Elegantly
           woven
           into
           :
           The
           last
           of
           those
           Journies
           was
           of
           near
           Two
           hundred
           Miles
           ,
           namely
           from
           Canaan
           unto
           Goshen
           ,
           occasioned
           by
           his
           Son
           
           Ioseph's
           Advancement
           to
           be
           Vice-Roy
           of
           Egypt
           ,
           and
           the
           Relief
           which
           that
           Honourable
           Vice-Roy
           had
           provided
           against
           the
           sore
           Famine
           then
           raging
           in
           the
           Countries
           round
           about
           .
        
         
           This
           Chapter
           entertains
           us
           with
           a
           very
           affecting
           story
           of
           some
           accidents
           preparatory
           thereunto
           ;
           a
           story
           ,
           How
           the
           Ten
           Brethren
           of
           Ioseph
           ,
           by
           whose
           Villany
           he
           had
           been
           Spirited
           away
           into
           Egypt
           ,
           made
           their
           
             Humble
             Address
          
           unto
           him
           for
           Corn
           ,
           while
           his
           Grandure
           and
           his
           Policy
           concealed
           him
           from
           their
           knowledge
           :
           How
           by
           a
           contrivance
           he
           made
           one
           of
           them
           ,
           Simeon
           by
           name
           ,
           a
           Prisoner
           ;
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           obliging
           
           the
           rest
           to
           return
           with
           another
           Brother
           of
           his
           ,
           by
           name
           Benjamin
           ,
           who
           was
           by
           them
           left
           behind
           as
           the
           chief
           solace
           of
           their
           Aged
           Father
           ,
           and
           the
           only
           remaining
           Child
           of
           his
           deceased
           Mother
           .
           Old
           Iacob
           was
           made
           acquainted
           with
           the
           true
           state
           of
           the
           Case
           ,
           and
           in
           this
           Verse
           we
           have
           his
           grievous
           Resentment
           of
           it
           .
           In
           this
           Querimonious
           Lamentation
           of
           the
           good
           old
           Saint
           there
           are
           especially
           Two
           things
           intimated
           :
        
         
           First
           ,
           Here
           seems
           to
           be
           a
           Suspecting
           of
           his
           Childrens
           Wickedness
           ;
           his
           words
           are
           ,
           
             Me
             have
             ye
             bereaved
             of
             my
             Children
             ,
          
           Joseph
           
             is
             not
          
           ,
           Simeon
           
             is
             not
             ,
             and
             ye
             will
             take
          
           Benjamin
           away
           .
           Methinks
           the
           sorrow
           of
           his
           oppressed
           Heart
           seems
           thus
           to
           vent
           it self
           ,
           
             q.
             d.
          
           
        
         
           
             This
             is
             a
             strange
             ,
             and
             a
             very
             sad
             thing
             ;
             I
             cannot
             trust
             you
             all
             together
             ,
             but
             one
             or
             other
             of
             you
             ,
             that
             you
             think
             I
             have
             a
             particular
             kindness
             for
             ,
             must
             come
             short
             home
             .
             I
             am
             now
             confirmed
             in
             my
             doubts
             ,
             that
             you
             were
             the
             Wild-beasts
             ,
             the
             unnatural
             Tygres
             who
             tore
             my
             Ioseph
             to
             pieces
             .
             I
             am
             not
             without
             my
             Fears
             ,
             that
             you
             are
             the
             Iaylors
             ,
             Shall
             I
             say
             ?
             or
             the
             Hangmen
             who
             have
             got
             my
             Simeon
             out
             of
             the
             way
             .
             And
             I
             am
             jealous
             
             that
             you
             have
             some
             ill
             design
             upon
             my
             best
             Darling
             Benjamin
             too
             .
             Never
             had
             any
             man
             such
             mishaps
             in
             his
             Children
             ,
             as
             your
             miserable
             Father
             has
             .
          
        
         
           Next
           ,
           Here
           seems
           to
           be
           a
           Bewailing
           of
           his
           Makers
           providence
           :
           His
           words
           are
           ,
           
             All
             these
             things
             are
             against
             me
             .
          
           Some
           render
           them
           ,
           
             All
             these
             things
             are
          
           UPON
           me
           ,
           q.
           d.
           
           
             As
             for
             you
             ,
             you
             make
             light
             of
             these
             matters
             ,
             as
             if
             they
             were
             no
             concernment
             of
             yours
             :
             For
             my
             part
             ,
             I
             feel
             them
             ,
             they
             go
             very
             near
             to
             me
             .
          
           But
           our
           Translation
           of
           it
           ,
           seems
           more
           worthy
           of
           Approbation
           and
           Acceptation
           ;
           
             All
             these
             things
             are
          
           AGAINST
           me
           :
           And
           then
           this
           Paraphrase
           will
           carry
           the
           sence
           of
           it
           ,
           
             q.
             d.
          
           
        
         
           
             The
             things
             which
             have
             been
             my
             Trouble
             ,
             will
             be
             my
             Ruine
             ;
             they
             are
             a
             sort
             of
             things
             which
             I
             cannot
             conceive
             any
             advantage
             to
             my self
             consulted
             in
             ,
             or
             accruing
             by
             .
             When
             I
             look
             upon
             the
             dealings
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             I
             cannot
             but
             be
             full
             of
             awful
             Apprehensions
             that
             I
             am
             utterly
             banished
             from
             the
             mercies
             of
             the
             Lord
             ;
             these
             things
             render
             me
             an
             
               undone
               Man.
            
             
          
        
         
           Now
           ,
           remember
           that
           the
           happy
           event
           proved
           him
           egregiously
           mistaken
           here
           ;
           
             Ioseph
             is
             not
          
           ,
           said
           he
           ;
           yet
           ,
           
             he
             was
          
           ,
           and
           his
           
           Father
           had
           no
           cause
           to
           be
           sorry
           that
           he
           was
           
             what
             he
             was
             :
             Simeon
             is
             not
             ,
          
           said
           he
           ;
           yet
           
             he
             was
          
           ,
           and
           his
           Father
           might
           have
           been
           starved
           ,
           if
           he
           had
           not
           been
           
             where
             he
             was
          
           .
           Those
           things
           which
           he
           so
           fondly
           counted
           
             against
             him
          
           ,
           were
           the
           very
           things
           that
           not
           only
           try'd
           his
           Grace
           ,
           but
           also
           sav'd
           his
           Life
           .
           Let
           us
           admit
           the
           deplored
           Child
           himself
           ,
           to
           correct
           the
           sad
           mistake
           ;
           he
           said
           afterwards
           in
           
             Gen.
             50.
             20.
             
             God
             meant
             it
             unto
             Good.
             
          
        
         
           The
           Truth
           which
           from
           this
           Mistake
           we
           may
           raise
           for
           a
           Doctrine
           to
           be
           now
           insisted
           on
           ,
           is
           therefore
           this
           :
        
         
           
             Doctrine
             .
          
           
             
               The
               People
               of
               God
               are
               apt
               very
               frequently
               ,
               but
               not
               a
               little
               wrongfully
               to
               conclude
               ,
               that
               the
               Afflictive
               Dispensations
               of
               the
               most
               High
               towards
               them
               ,
               are
               very
               highly
               to
               their
               Prejudice
               ,
               or
               but
               a
               little
               to
               their
               Benefit
               .
            
          
           
             The
             Propositions
             that
             may
             serve
             to
             state
             this
             Truth
             distinctly
             in
             your
             Thoughts
             ,
             are
             such
             as
             these
             .
          
           
             
             
               Proposition
               I.
               
            
             
               
                 The
                 People
                 of
                 God
                 are
                 sure
                 to
                 be
                 exercised
                 with
                 Afflictive
                 Dispensations
                 of
                 the
                 most
                 High
                 towards
                 them
                 in
                 the
                 World.
                 
              
            
             
               There
               is
               in
               every
               Generation
               a
               Remnant
               ,
               a
               
                 Little
                 little
                 Flock
              
               of
               Men
               ,
               who
               are
               effectually
               called
               from
               the
               Vanities
               which
               the
               biggest
               part
               of
               perishing
               Mankind
               is
               wofully
               drowned
               in
               ,
               unto
               the
               service
               of
               the
               Living
               God
               ;
               who
               have
               chosen
               God
               as
               their
               
                 Best
                 good
              
               ,
               and
               their
               
                 Last
                 end
              
               ;
               chosen
               Christ
               as
               their
               
                 Lord
                 Redeemer
              
               ,
               and
               resolved
               to
               be
               
                 for
                 him
                 and
                 not
                 for
                 another
                 .
              
               These
               renewed
               Children
               of
               Adam
               are
               the
               Mystical
               Children
               of
               Israel
               ;
               they
               may
               with
               an
               Eye
               to
               a
               Spiritual
               relation
               ,
               point
               at
               Iacob
               ,
               and
               say
               ,
               A
               Syrian
               
                 ready
                 to
                 perish
                 was
                 my
                 Father
                 .
              
               Now
               these
               must
               even
               in
               a
               peculiar
               manner
               expect
               to
               be
               like
               their
               Father
               Iacob
               ,
               who
               in
               the
               close
               of
               his
               days
               was
               forced
               to
               say
               ,
               
                 Gen.
                 47.
                 9.
                 
                 Evil
                 have
                 been
                 the
                 days
                 of
                 the
                 years
                 of
                 my
                 Life
                 .
              
               In
               every
               Age
               and
               in
               every
               Place
               ,
               we
               may
               see
               the
               most
               High
               God
               afflicting
               of
               a
               Iacob
               in
               his
               Relations
               ;
               of
               them
               ,
               some
               are
               Churlish
               ,
               others
               are
               Profane
               ,
               and
               others
               are
               
                 Taken
                 
                 away
              
               .
               We
               may
               behold
               the
               Lord
               ●fflicting
               of
               an
               Heman
               in
               his
               Mind
               ;
               th●
               Man
               complains
               ,
               
                 Lord
                 ,
                 Why
                 dost
                 thou
                 cast
                 off
                 my
                 Soul
                 ?
                 While
                 I
                 suffer
                 thy
                 Terrors
                 ,
                 I
                 am
                 distracted
                 .
              
               We
               may
               behold
               the
               Lord
               Afflicting
               of
               a
               Timothy
               in
               his
               Body
               ,
               he
               feels
               a
               
                 weak
                 Stomack
              
               ,
               with
               
                 often
                 Infirmities
              
               .
               We
               may
               behold
               the
               Lord
               Afflicting
               of
               a
               Lazarus
               in
               his
               Estate
               ,
               he
               is
               reduced
               unto
               Beggery
               at
               the
               Doors
               of
               a
               wicked
               Belly-God
               .
               We
               may
               behold
               the
               Lord
               Afflicting
               of
               an
               Elijah
               in
               his
               Esteem
               ,
               he
               is
               Libelled
               as
               a
               Seditions
               Boutefeau
               ,
               always
               Troubling
               of
               his
               Country
               .
               In
               a
               word
               ,
               we
               may
               ordinarily
               behold
               a
               David
               ,
               a
               Iob
               ,
               a
               Paul
               ,
               Afflicted
               in
               all
               ,
               or
               most
               of
               these
               regards
               .
            
             
               The
               Christian
               that
               promises
               himself
               an
               Immunity
               from
               Afflictions
               in
               this
               Evil
               World
               ,
               is
               indeed
               a
               Christian
               only
               in
               the
               Italian
               ,
               wicked
               ,
               scoffing
               usage
               of
               the
               Word
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               
                 a
                 Fool.
              
               It
               is
               one
               of
               the
               Names
               put
               upon
               the
               People
               of
               God
               ,
               in
               Isa.
               54.
               11.
               
               
                 O
                 thou
                 Afflicted
              
               .
               Nor
               can
               any
               particular
               Believer
               escape
               this
               
                 common
                 Lot
              
               :
               No
               ,
               every
               one
               that
               is
               of
               Israel
               ,
               must
               look
               to
               say
               with
               Israel
               ,
               in
               
                 Psal.
                 129.
                 1.
                 
                 Many
                 a
                 time
                 have
                 they
                 Afflicted
                 me
                 from
                 my
                 Youth
                 .
              
               Indeed
               the
               People
               of
               God
               will
               at
               last
               arrive
               unto
               a
               
                 Quiet
                 Haven
              
               .
               
                 
                 —
                 Sedes
                 ubi
                 Fata
                 quietas
                 Ostendunt
                 —
              
            
             
               [
               Or
               in
               a
               better
               Dialect
               ]
               
                 Where
                 all
                 Tears
                 shall
                 be
                 wiped
                 from
                 their
                 Eyes
                 :
              
               But
               where
               ?
               But
               when
               ?
               Truly
               ,
               this
               Bliss-land
               is
               not
               on
               this
               side
               the
               Water
               ;
               it
               is
               a
               
                 Land
                 a
                 far
                 off
              
               ,
               and
               we
               shall
               not
               see
               it
               ,
               until
               we
               put
               a-shore
               on
               the
               
                 Land
                 flowing
                 with
                 Milk
                 and
                 Honey
                 ,
              
               beyond
               the
               Stars
               :
               We
               must
               Sail
               through
               a
               turbid
               Ocean
               full
               of
               
                 horrible
                 Tempest
              
               ,
               here
               ,
               and
               ,
               
                 —
                 Vt
                 Fluctus
                 Fluctum
                 sic
                 Luctus
                 Luctum
                 —
              
               One
               Wave
               will
               follow
               upon
               another
               ,
               the
               
                 last
                 Wave
              
               still
               seeming
               the
               
                 tenth
                 Wave
              
               ,
               untill
               we
               drop
               Anchor
               within
               the
               vail
               of
               Heaven
               it self
               .
               When
               the
               Ancient
               Martyr
               Ignatius
               was
               brought
               to
               have
               his
               Flesh
               torn
               from
               his
               Bones
               ,
               and
               his
               Bones
               broken
               by
               the
               Teeth
               of
               Wild
               Beasts
               ,
               he
               uttered
               such
               a
               speech
               as
               that
               ,
               
                 O
                 now
                 I
                 begin
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 Christian
                 !
              
               Thus
               our
               Lord
               hath
               laid
               down
               this
               as
               the
               A
               B
               C
               of
               Christianity
               ,
               in
               
                 Matth.
                 16.
                 24.
                 
                 If
                 any
                 man
                 will
                 come
                 after
                 me
                 ,
                 he
                 must
                 take
                 up
                 his
                 Cross
                 ,
                 and
                 follow
                 me
                 .
              
               This
               is
               the
               first
               Lesson
               for
               a
               Disciple
               in
               the
               School
               of
               the
               Lord
               Jesus
               ,
               
                 Look
                 for
                 Afflictions
                 here
              
               !
               The
               Glorious
               God
               will
               
               lay
               over
               our
               Shoulders
               that
               ragged
               piece
               of
               Wood
               ,
               
                 a
                 Cross
              
               ;
               when
               once
               we
               are
               associated
               with
               his
               people
               ,
               who
               all
               Travel
               through
               the
               Valley
               of
               Baca
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               of
               Weeping
               ,
               unto
               their
               Everlasting
               Happiness
               .
               This
               was
               the
               condition
               of
               our
               Illustrious
               Fore-runner
               ;
               he
               ran
               thrô
               a
               way
               all
               strow'd
               with
               Briars
               and
               Thorns
               ,
               as
               it
               is
               said
               in
               
                 Luk.
                 24.
                 46.
                 
                 He
                 must
                 suffer
                 ,
                 and
                 enter
                 into
                 his
                 glory
              
               ;
               and
               all
               his
               followers
               are
               to
               drink
               of
               his
               Cup
               :
               We
               cannot
               escape
               treading
               in
               the
               Bloody
               Tracks
               which
               he
               hath
               left
               behind
               him
               ;
               we
               have
               received
               this
               warning
               from
               our
               Lord
               himself
               ,
               in
               
                 Ioh.
                 16.
                 33.
                 
                 In
                 the
                 World
                 you
                 shall
                 have
                 Tribulation
                 :
              
               We
               have
               received
               this
               Witness
               from
               his
               Apostles
               also
               ,
               in
               Act.
               14.
               22.
               
               
                 Through
                 much
                 Tribulation
                 we
                 must
                 enter
                 into
                 the
                 Kingdom
                 of
                 God
              
               ;
               and
               the
               experience
               of
               above
               Five
               thousand
               Years
               ,
               hath
               now
               set
               a
               Seal
               to
               that
               Observation
               ,
               in
               
                 Psal.
                 31.
                 19.
                 
                 Many
                 are
                 the
                 Troubles
                 of
                 the
                 Righteous
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Question
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 from
                 whose
                 Hands
                 do
                 the
                 Afflictions
                 of
                 the
                 Lords
                 people
                 come
                 ?
              
               
                 This
                 is
                 that
                 which
                 we
                 have
                 said
                 ,
                 
                   They
                   are
                   the
                   Dispensations
                   of
                   the
                   most
                   High.
                
                 Indeed
                 
                 there
                 may
                 often
                 be
                 the
                 
                   Hand
                   of
                   Ioab
                
                 in
                 our
                 Afflictions
                 ,
                 there
                 may
                 be
                 the
                 Malice
                 of
                 Satan
                 and
                 his
                 Instruments
                 .
                 Those
                 fierce
                 Natives
                 of
                 this
                 dark
                 Climate
                 will
                 be
                 often
                 as
                 Thorns
                 in
                 the
                 sides
                 of
                 the
                 Pilgrims
                 ,
                 that
                 are
                 Travelling
                 to
                 a
                 
                   better
                   Country
                
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 still
                 these
                 Rods
                 are
                 all
                 in
                 the
                 Hand
                 of
                 God
                 :
                 We
                 are
                 told
                 in
                 Amos
                 3.
                 7.
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 such
                 
                   Evil
                   in
                   the
                   City
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   Lord
                   hath
                   not
                   done
                   it
                   .
                
                 O
                 that
                 every
                 Man
                 would
                 always
                 remember
                 this
                 ,
                 the
                 Griefs
                 of
                 thy
                 Heart
                 are
                 all
                 ordered
                 by
                 that
                 God
                 by
                 whom
                 the
                 Hairs
                 of
                 thy
                 Head
                 are
                 all
                 numbred
                 .
                 Not
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 the
                 Tongue
                 of
                 a
                 Dog
                 will
                 ever
                 stir
                 against
                 thee
                 ,
                 unless
                 managed
                 by
                 the
                 Hand
                 of
                 the
                 Lord.
                 The
                 King
                 of
                 Assyria
                 himself
                 ,
                 by
                 whom
                 a
                 vast
                 part
                 of
                 mankind
                 may
                 be
                 Afflicted
                 ,
                 is
                 but
                 a
                 staff
                 of
                 Indignation
                 in
                 that
                 all
                 disposing
                 Hand
                 .
              
            
          
           
             
               Proposition
               II.
               
            
             
               
                 The
                 people
                 of
                 God
                 are
                 apt
                 very
                 frequently
                 to
                 conclude
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Afflictive
                 Dispensations
                 of
                 the
                 most
                 High
                 towards
                 them
                 ,
                 are
                 very
                 highly
                 to
                 their
                 prejudice
                 .
              
            
             
               From
               the
               embittered
               Heart
               of
               a
               Iacob
               in
               his
               exercises
               ,
               there
               is
               often
               sob'd
               that
               
               melancholy
               Groan
               ,
               
                 All
                 these
                 things
                 are
                 against
                 me
                 .
              
               Alas
               !
               under
               Affliction
               we
               can
               usually
               speak
               no
               other
               Language
               but
               that
               in
               
                 Lam.
                 3.
                 1.
                 
                 I
                 have
                 seen
                 Affliction
                 by
                 the
                 Rod
                 of
                 Gods
                 wrath
              
               ;
               we
               see
               nothing
               but
               Wrath
               and
               Curse
               ,
               and
               fiery
               Vengeance
               dispensed
               unto
               us
               in
               our
               Bitter
               things
               .
            
             
               
                 Question
                 .
              
               
                 Whence
                 do's
                 this
                 come
                 to
                 pass
                 ?
              
               
                 One
                 reason
                 of
                 this
                 Misprision
                 is
                 ;
                 The
                 best
                 people
                 of
                 God
                 are
                 not
                 without
                 bad
                 
                   remainders
                   of
                   Flesh
                
                 :
                 Now
                 every
                 Affliction
                 will
                 grate
                 hard
                 upon
                 That
                 ;
                 the
                 galled
                 Flesh
                 of
                 Afflicted
                 Men
                 ,
                 cannot
                 forbear
                 that
                 shreek
                 ,
                 
                   I
                   am
                   hurt
                
                 .
                 This
                 Flesh
                 of
                 ours
                 will
                 cloud
                 our
                 understandings
                 ,
                 and
                 beget
                 in
                 us
                 very
                 
                   false
                   Conceptions
                
                 of
                 our
                 
                   sharp
                   Afflictions
                
                 .
                 The
                 methods
                 wherein
                 the
                 great
                 God
                 pursues
                 our
                 good
                 ,
                 are
                 very
                 Certain
                 ,
                 and
                 very
                 Glorious
                 ;
                 but
                 they
                 are
                 also
                 very
                 Obscure
                 .
                 Silly
                 shallow
                 Creatures
                 ,
                 who
                 
                   dwell
                   in
                   Houses
                   of
                   Clay
                
                 ,
                 cannot
                 fathom
                 the
                 Mysterious
                 proceedings
                 of
                 the
                 God
                 whose
                 
                   Way
                   is
                   in
                   the
                   Deep
                
                 ,
                 and
                 whose
                 
                   Iudgments
                   are
                   a
                   great
                   Deep
                
                 ;
                 and
                 when
                 we
                 go
                 to
                 Contemplate
                 these
                 
                   deep
                   things
                
                 ,
                 then
                 our
                 Flesh
                 offers
                 unto
                 us
                 very
                 injurious
                 Glasses
                 to
                 view
                 them
                 in
                 ;
                 
                 listen
                 to
                 this
                 misjudging
                 Flesh
                 ,
                 and
                 it
                 will
                 tell
                 us
                 ,
                 
                   If
                   thou
                   dost
                   not
                   live
                   surrounded
                   with
                   the
                   Pleasures
                   ,
                   and
                   Riches
                   ,
                   and
                   Honours
                   of
                   this
                   World
                   ,
                   and
                   leave
                   a
                   good
                   Portion
                   of
                   them
                   unto
                   Children
                   of
                   thy
                   own
                   ;
                   when
                   thy
                   time
                   shall
                   come
                   to
                   Dye
                   ,
                   thou
                   art
                   a
                   Miserable
                   Man.
                
                 The
                 moan
                 of
                 Iacob
                 in
                 our
                 Text
                 is
                 by
                 some
                 Englished
                 so
                 ,
                 
                   All
                   these
                   things
                   are
                   Above
                   me
                   :
                
                 Truly
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 above
                 the
                 Reach
                 ,
                 above
                 the
                 ken
                 of
                 our
                 Flesh
                 to
                 imagine
                 ,
                 
                   That
                   what
                   impairs
                   our
                   Worldly
                   greatness
                   and
                   glory
                   ,
                   is
                   no
                   real
                   Detriment
                   unto
                   us
                
                 ;
                 our
                 Sense
                 ,
                 our
                 carnal
                 perverse
                 dim-sighted
                 Sense
                 ,
                 will
                 not
                 easily
                 make
                 sence
                 of
                 that
                 Riddle
                 ,
                 in
                 
                   Iudg.
                   14.
                   14.
                   
                   Out
                   of
                   the
                   Eater
                   came
                   forth
                   Meat
                   .
                
              
               
                 Another
                 reason
                 of
                 this
                 Error
                 is
                 ;
                 The
                 people
                 of
                 God
                 have
                 been
                 guilty
                 of
                 much
                 
                   Sin
                   against
                   God.
                
                 In
                 the
                 dark
                 doleful
                 days
                 of
                 their
                 Unregeneracy
                 ,
                 how
                 many
                 ,
                 how
                 mighty
                 ,
                 were
                 our
                 
                   doings
                   against
                   the
                   Lord
                
                 !
                 Yea
                 ,
                 and
                 since
                 the
                 Lord
                 made
                 us
                 
                   know
                   wisdom
                   in
                   the
                   hidden
                   Man
                
                 ;
                 how
                 crooked
                 ,
                 how
                 faulty
                 have
                 our
                 ways
                 before
                 him
                 been
                 !
                 The
                 Psalmist
                 complained
                 in
                 
                   Psal.
                   49.
                   5.
                   
                   In
                   the
                   days
                   of
                   Evil
                   ,
                   the
                   iniquity
                   of
                   my
                   heels
                   doth
                   compass
                   me
                   about
                   :
                
                 Our
                 Heels
                 formerly
                 have
                 step'd
                 awry
                 into
                 dirty
                 Iniquities
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 Iniquities
                 we
                 have
                 been
                 ready
                 to
                 lay
                 
                 at
                 our
                 Heels
                 by
                 our
                 Impenitent
                 forgetfulness
                 :
                 But
                 in
                 our
                 Afflictions
                 those
                 Iniquities
                 rising
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 out
                 of
                 their
                 Grave
                 ,
                 haunt
                 us
                 ,
                 dog
                 us
                 ,
                 and
                 stare
                 us
                 full
                 in
                 the
                 Face
                 ;
                 our
                 Hearts
                 now
                 condemn
                 us
                 ,
                 and
                 thereupon
                 they
                 likewise
                 
                   condemn
                   God
                
                 :
                 We
                 are
                 prone
                 to
                 think
                 that
                 
                   Gods
                   designs
                
                 cannot
                 be
                 good
                 ,
                 because
                 we
                 know
                 that
                 
                   our
                   deserts
                
                 are
                 very
                 bad
                 .
                 Sinful
                 Man
                 will
                 not
                 quickly
                 believe
                 that
                 word
                 of
                 the
                 Lord
                 ,
                 
                   My
                   Thoughts
                   are
                   not
                   as
                   your
                   Thoughts
                   :
                
                 Hence
                 our
                 own
                 first
                 misgiving
                 ,
                 and
                 then
                 misjudging
                 Hearts
                 will
                 in
                 Affliction
                 say
                 ,
                 
                   Now
                   I
                   feel
                   the
                   wounds
                   of
                   an
                   Enemy
                   :
                   It
                   is
                   not
                   possible
                   that
                   I
                   should
                   suffer
                   these
                   terrible
                   things
                   from
                   one
                   who
                   is
                   the
                   God
                   of
                   my
                   Salvation
                   ;
                   the
                   Lord
                   proceeds
                   to
                   Afflict
                   me
                   thus
                   ,
                   because
                   he
                   intends
                   to
                   destroy
                   me
                   for
                   ever
                   .
                
                 When
                 once
                 a
                 thinking
                 Man
                 comes
                 to
                 say
                 ,
                 
                   God
                   is
                   Angry
                
                 ,
                 he
                 will
                 soon
                 add
                 ,
                 
                   I
                   am
                   undone
                
                 .
              
               
                 A
                 Third
                 reason
                 (
                 to
                 say
                 no
                 more
                 )
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 is
                 ;
                 The
                 
                   Devil
                   of
                   Hell
                
                 often
                 falls
                 upon
                 the
                 people
                 of
                 God
                 in
                 their
                 Afflictions
                 ,
                 that
                 soul
                 Fiend
                 falls
                 foul
                 on
                 them
                 ,
                 when
                 he
                 has
                 them
                 thus
                 at
                 a
                 disadvantage
                 .
                 The
                 
                   Powers
                   of
                   Darkness
                
                 take
                 the
                 
                   Hours
                   of
                   Darkness
                
                 therein
                 to
                 make
                 their
                 Assaults
                 on
                 the
                 Faith
                 
                 of
                 them
                 that
                 they
                 would
                 annoy
                 .
                 The
                 
                   Accuser
                   of
                   Men
                
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 is
                 also
                 an
                 
                   Accuser
                   of
                   God
                
                 to
                 Men
                 ;
                 and
                 when
                 it
                 is
                 a
                 Gloomy
                 time
                 without
                 them
                 ,
                 then
                 will
                 Satan
                 suggest
                 within
                 them
                 ,
                 
                   Terribilia
                   de
                   Deo
                
                 ,
                 very
                 frightful
                 Visions
                 of
                 their
                 Almighty
                 Saviour
                 ;
                 he
                 will
                 pour
                 in
                 upon
                 them
                 those
                 things
                 which
                 are
                 call'd
                 ,
                 in
                 
                   Eph.
                   6.
                   16.
                   
                   The
                   fiery
                   Darts
                   of
                   the
                   Wicked
                   one
                   :
                
                 He
                 would
                 have
                 us
                 entertain
                 hard
                 and
                 
                   Hellish
                   thoughts
                
                 of
                 that
                 God
                 ,
                 
                   whose
                   Mercy
                   endureth
                   for
                   Ever
                
                 :
                 Hence
                 he
                 will
                 be
                 still
                 telling
                 of
                 us
                 ,
                 
                   God
                   counts
                   thee
                   for
                   his
                   Enemy
                   ,
                
                 and
                 
                   thy
                   God
                   hath
                   forgotten
                   thee
                
                 ,
                 and
                 
                   the
                   Mercy
                   of
                   the
                   Lord
                   is
                   clean
                   gone
                   from
                   thee
                   for
                   ever
                   ;
                   thou
                   art
                   before
                   thy
                   Maker
                   as
                   a
                   Vessel
                   wherein
                   he
                   will
                   have
                   no
                   pleasure
                   for
                   evermore
                   ;
                   he
                   will
                   undo
                   thee
                   before
                   he
                   has
                   done
                   with
                   thee
                   .
                
              
               
                 Now
                 ,
                 What
                 is
                 the
                 Result
                 of
                 all
                 this
                 ?
                 Alas
                 !
                 the
                 people
                 of
                 God
                 now
                 frequently
                 have
                 cause
                 to
                 give
                 that
                 mean
                 ,
                 that
                 shameful
                 ,
                 that
                 pitiful
                 account
                 of
                 themselves
                 ,
                 in
                 
                   Psal.
                   77.
                   2.
                   
                   In
                   the
                   day
                   of
                   my
                   trouble
                   ,
                   my
                   Soul
                   refused
                   to
                   be
                   comforted
                   .
                
              
            
          
           
             
             
               Proposition
               III.
               
            
             
               
                 The
                 people
                 of
                 God
                 conclude
                 not
                 a
                 little
                 wrongfully
                 ,
                 when
                 they
                 think
                 his
                 Afflictive
                 Dispensations
                 to
                 be
                 but
                 a
                 little
                 for
                 their
                 benefit
                 .
              
            
             
               When
               Iacob
               would
               surmise
               ,
               
                 All
                 these
                 things
                 are
                 against
                 me
                 ,
              
               it
               might
               have
               been
               reply'd
               upon
               him
               ,
               
                 No
                 ,
                 you
                 are
                 greatly
                 deceived
                 ,
                 you
                 and
                 yours
                 must
                 have
                 perished
                 ,
                 if
                 these
                 things
                 had
                 not
                 happened
                 .
              
               When
               the
               Afflicted
               people
               of
               God
               cry
               out
               ,
               
                 Vndone
                 !
                 Vndone
              
               !
               they
               have
               cause
               to
               eat
               that
               word
               ,
               and
               rather
               to
               say
               ,
               
                 Periissem
                 nisi
                 periissem
              
               ,
               I
               had
               been
               
                 quite
                 undone
              
               ,
               if
               I
               had
               not
               been
               
                 thus
                 undone
              
               .
               Instead
               of
               concluding
               ,
               
                 All
                 these
                 things
                 are
                 against
                 me
                 ,
              
               we
               do
               much
               wrong
               ,
               if
               we
               do
               not
               admit
               that
               Thought
               ,
               in
               
                 Rom.
                 8.
                 28.
                 
                 All
                 things
                 shall
                 work
                 together
                 for
                 good
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Question
                 .
              
               
                 How
                 do's
                 this
                 Appear
                 ?
              
               
                 One
                 piece
                 of
                 Injustice
                 attending
                 of
                 that
                 conclusion
                 is
                 ;
                 There
                 is
                 a
                 wrong
                 thereby
                 done
                 to
                 the
                 Kindness
                 of
                 God.
                 With
                 such
                 
                 a
                 clap
                 of
                 Thunder
                 as
                 this
                 may
                 the
                 Lord
                 reprove
                 your
                 hard
                 opinion
                 of
                 him
                 ,
                 
                   You
                   think
                   worse
                   of
                   me
                   than
                   I
                   deserve
                   !
                
                 Our
                 good
                 God
                 hath
                 assured
                 us
                 ,
                 in
                 
                   Rev.
                   3.
                   19.
                   
                   Whom
                   I
                   love
                   ,
                   I
                   rebuke
                   and
                   chasten
                
                 ;
                 why
                 then
                 shall
                 we
                 contradict
                 him
                 with
                 such
                 a
                 vain
                 imagination
                 as
                 this
                 ,
                 
                   I
                   am
                   Rebuked
                   only
                   that
                   I
                   may
                   be
                   ruined
                   ,
                   I
                   am
                   Chastened
                   only
                   because
                   I
                   am
                   abhorred
                   by
                   the
                   Lord
                   ?
                
              
               
                 Another
                 Injustice
                 expressed
                 in
                 that
                 conclusion
                 is
                 ;
                 There
                 is
                 thereby
                 a
                 wrong
                 done
                 to
                 the
                 Wisdom
                 of
                 God.
                 They
                 of
                 Old
                 reflected
                 hard
                 ,
                 when
                 they
                 said
                 ,
                 
                   Can
                   any
                   good
                   thing
                   come
                   out
                   of
                   Nazareth
                   ?
                
                 Thus
                 do
                 they
                 that
                 say
                 ,
                 
                   Can
                   any
                   good
                   thing
                   come
                   out
                   of
                   Affliction
                   ?
                
                 Well
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 pray
                 ,
                 Why
                 not
                 ?
                 What
                 should
                 hinder
                 Good
                 from
                 coming
                 out
                 of
                 that
                 
                   grievous
                   thing
                
                 ?
                 Is
                 it
                 impossible
                 unto
                 that
                 God
                 ,
                 who
                 is
                 
                   wise
                   in
                   Counsel
                   ,
                   and
                   wonderful
                   in
                   Working
                   ?
                
                 We
                 are
                 informed
                 in
                 1
                 Pet.
                 1.
                 6.
                 
                 It
                 is
                 only
                 
                   if
                   need
                   be
                
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 are
                 brought
                 into
                 Heaviness
                 :
                 The
                 Lord
                 would
                 not
                 let
                 one
                 Affliction
                 give
                 thee
                 any
                 Trouble
                 ,
                 if
                 some
                 Occasion
                 did
                 not
                 call
                 for
                 it
                 ,
                 if
                 much
                 Advantage
                 did
                 not
                 come
                 by
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 One
                 more
                 Evidence
                 of
                 Vnreasonableness
                 in
                 this
                 conclusion
                 is
                 ,
                 The
                 people
                 of
                 God
                 at
                 the
                 Period
                 of
                 their
                 Afflictions
                 ,
                 will
                 themselves
                 confess
                 ,
                 this
                 conclusion
                 to
                 have
                 
                 been
                 Vnreasonable
                 .
                 What
                 our
                 Lord
                 said
                 unto
                 the
                 Inquisitive
                 Peter
                 ,
                 the
                 same
                 he
                 says
                 unto
                 the
                 Afflicted
                 Christian
                 ,
                 
                   What
                   I
                   do
                   ,
                   thou
                   knowest
                   not
                   now
                   ,
                   but
                   thou
                   shalt
                   know
                   hereafter
                   :
                
                 Verily
                 ,
                 when
                 we
                 do
                 
                   hereafter
                   know
                
                 ,
                 how
                 God
                 has
                 at
                 once
                 Afflicted
                 us
                 and
                 Amended
                 us
                 ,
                 then
                 we
                 shall
                 say
                 ,
                 
                   He
                   hath
                   done
                   all
                   things
                   well
                   .
                
                 When
                 we
                 have
                 got
                 through
                 the
                 
                   black
                   Vallies
                
                 ,
                 out
                 on
                 the
                 other
                 side
                 ,
                 then
                 we
                 shall
                 see
                 what
                 now
                 we
                 will
                 hardly
                 believe
                 ,
                 then
                 we
                 see
                 that
                 the
                 Thoughts
                 of
                 God
                 about
                 us
                 were
                 
                   Thoughts
                   of
                   Good
                   and
                   not
                   of
                   Evil
                
                 ;
                 then
                 we
                 see
                 that
                 the
                 Aims
                 of
                 God
                 were
                 to
                 
                   do
                   us
                   Good
                   in
                   the
                   latter
                   end
                
                 ;
                 then
                 do
                 our
                 Triumphing
                 Souls
                 declare
                 as
                 in
                 
                   Psal.
                   119.
                   71.
                   
                   It
                   is
                   good
                   for
                   me
                   ,
                   that
                   I
                   have
                   been
                   Afflicted
                   .
                
                 Nothing
                 is
                 more
                 common
                 than
                 to
                 hear
                 a
                 Christian
                 after
                 many
                 Afflictions
                 professing
                 ,
                 
                   I
                   could
                   not
                   have
                   been
                   well
                   without
                   any
                   one
                   of
                   all
                   my
                   Afflictions
                   ,
                   I
                   had
                   want
                   of
                   them
                   all
                   ,
                   I
                   have
                   good
                   by
                   them
                   all
                   :
                
                 How
                 much
                 more
                 will
                 the
                 Beauty
                 and
                 Benefit
                 of
                 all
                 our
                 Afflictions
                 be
                 thankfully
                 acknowledged
                 by
                 us
                 in
                 the
                 Land
                 of
                 light
                 ,
                 where
                 every
                 Labyrinth
                 of
                 providence
                 will
                 be
                 explained
                 ;
                 for
                 every
                 one
                 of
                 our
                 Afflictions
                 in
                 this
                 ,
                 we
                 shall
                 return
                 a
                 Million
                 of
                 Hallelujahs
                 in
                 another
                 and
                 a
                 better
                 World.
                 
              
               
               
                 The
                 Improvement
                 of
                 these
                 things
                 remains
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           
             VSE
             .
          
           
             And
             now
             let
             these
             things
             incourage
             the
             
               people
               of
               the
               Saints
               of
               the
               most
               High
               ,
            
             unto
             a
             due
             Faith
             and
             Patience
             under
             the
             
               Afflictive
               Dispensations
            
             ,
             which
             their
             Heavenly
             Father
             tries
             them
             with
             .
             Christians
             ,
             under
             all
             your
             Afflictions
             ,
             labour
             to
             say
             stedfastly
             ,
             to
             say
             joyfully
             ,
             not
             ,
             
               All
               these
               things
               are
               against
               me
               ,
            
             but
             rather
             ,
             
               Thanks
               be
               to
               God
               for
               his
               unspeakable
               Gifts
               .
            
             The
             Language
             that
             best
             befits
             us
             under
             our
             Afflictions
             is
             that
             ,
             the
             frequent
             using
             of
             which
             gave
             unto
             a
             famous
             Jewish
             Rabbi
             the
             name
             of
             
               Rabbi
               Ganizoth
            
             ;
             namely
             ,
             
               This
               Affliction
               was
               for
               my
               good
               ;
               and
               This
               too
               ,
               and
               This
               too
               .
            
          
           
             I
             am
             this
             day
             visited
             my self
             with
             the
             
               sudden
               Death
               of
               a
               dear
               and
               only
               Child
               :
            
             Permit
             me
             to
             endeavour
             your
             Edification
             ,
             for
             you
             all
             have
             been
             and
             may
             be
             under
             
               some
               Affliction
            
             ,
             and
             most
             of
             you
             under
             
               such
               Affliction
            
             ;
             let
             me
             do
             it
             by
             tendering
             unto
             you
             such
             Considerations
             as
             I
             would
             this
             day
             quiet
             my
             own
             tempestuous
             Rebellious
             
             Heart
             withal
             .
             As
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             himself
             was
             Tempted
             for
             this
             cause
             in
             part
             ,
             
               That
               he
               might
               know
               how
               to
               succour
               the
               Tempted
            
             ;
             thus
             the
             frail
             Men
             whom
             he
             employes
             ,
             for
             this
             ,
             among
             other
             that
             are
             worse
             causes
             ,
             are
             Afflicted
             ,
             even
             
               That
               they
               may
               more
               feelingly
               speak
               a
               word
               in
               season
               unto
               others
               in
               Affliction
               too
               .
            
          
           
             ¶
             There
             is
             First
             a
             General
             and
             then
             a
             Special
             Case
             ,
             which
             the
             following
             part
             of
             my
             Discourse
             must
             apply
             it self
             unto
             .
          
           
             
               The
               General
               Case
               .
            
             
               The
               more
               
                 General
                 Exhortation
              
               to
               be
               now
               Urged
               ,
               is
               ;
            
             
               Let
               us
               under
               no
               Affliction
               whatsoever
               ,
               be
               discomposed
               with
               any
               Apprehension
               ,
               as
               if
               it
               were
               utterly
               Against
               us
               .
            
             
               I
               am
               speaking
               to
               many
               
                 Children
                 of
                 Iacob
              
               that
               are
               
                 Children
                 of
                 Affliction
              
               ;
               some
               of
               us
               are
               lamenting
               over
               our
               broken
               Estates
               ,
               like
               Naomi
               ,
               in
               Ruth
               1.
               21.
               saying
               ,
               
                 I
                 was
                 Full
                 ,
                 but
                 I
                 am
                 become
                 Empty
                 .
              
               Some
               of
               us
               are
               Lamenting
               over
               our
               blasted
               Credits
               ,
               like
               David
               ,
               in
               Psal.
               69.
               20.
               saying
               ,
               
                 Reproach
                 
                 hath
                 broken
                 my
                 Heart
              
               ;
               and
               there
               are
               with
               us
               those
               who
               are
               Weeping
               over
               their
               Dead
               Children
               ,
               like
               the
               distressed
               Women
               of
               Bethlehom
               ,
               in
               
                 Matth.
                 2.
                 18.
                 
                 Weeping
                 for
                 their
                 Children
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 willing
                 to
                 be
                 comforted
                 ,
                 because
                 they
                 are
                 not
                 :
              
               And
               many
               more
               such
               Griefs
               are
               the
               minds
               of
               devout
               Persons
               among
               us
               Wounded
               with
               .
               That
               which
               Iacob
               sigh'd
               over
               his
               Ioseph
               and
               Simeon
               ,
               is
               by
               multitudes
               Mourned
               over
               their
               other
               Enjoyments
               also
               .
               An
               Ezekiel
               ,
               as
               in
               Ezek.
               24.
               16.
               
               Sighs
               over
               the
               Desire
               of
               his
               Eyes
               ,
               
                 She
                 is
                 not
              
               !
               A
               Widow
               of
               one
               of
               the
               Sons
               of
               the
               Prophets
               ,
               as
               in
               2
               King
               4.
               1.
               
               Sighs
               ,
               
                 My
                 Husband
                 is
                 not
              
               .
               An
               Isaac
               ,
               as
               in
               Gen.
               24.
               67.
               may
               Sigh
               over
               his
               
                 Mother
                 ,
                 She
                 is
                 not
              
               .
               An
               Israel
               ,
               as
               in
               Gen.
               35.
               29.
               may
               Sigh
               over
               his
               
                 Father
                 ,
                 He
                 is
                 not
              
               .
               And
               if
               a
               Ionah
               have
               had
               any
               Gourd
               which
               he
               has
               taken
               much
               contentment
               in
               ,
               he
               too
               ,
               as
               in
               Ion.
               4.
               8.
               is
               made
               to
               Sigh
               ,
               
                 It
                 is
                 not
              
               .
               But
               that
               which
               puts
               a
               Sting
               into
               all
               these
               Afflictions
               ,
               is
               ,
               that
               the
               Afflicted
               say
               ,
               
                 All
                 these
                 things
                 are
                 against
                 me
                 .
              
               Now
               ,
               O
               that
               there
               may
               be
               laid
               upon
               the
               thus
               talking
               Sorrow
               a
               charge
               of
               Silence
               ;
               Eternal
               Silence
               unto
               thee
               now
               ,
               O
               thou
               inordinate
               Passion
               ,
               before
               the
               Lord.
               Let
               this
               be
               as
               a
               
                 Word
                 upon
                 the
                 Wheels
              
               ,
               running
               into
               the
               very
               Souls
               of
               them
               that
               
               are
               of
               an
               
                 heavy
                 Heart
              
               .
               Be
               entreated
               ,
               O
               Afflicted
               Christians
               ,
               to
               say
               no
               more
               ,
               
                 All
                 these
                 things
                 are
                 against
                 me
                 .
              
               No
               ,
               be
               Comforted
               ;
               be
               Refreshed
               with
               Sentiments
               that
               are
               quite
               contrary
               thereunto
               .
               In
               your
               most
               cloudy
               hours
               ,
               O
               strive
               to
               say
               with
               him
               in
               
                 Psal.
                 94.
                 19.
                 
                 In
                 the
                 multitude
                 of
                 my
                 Thoughts
                 within
                 me
                 ,
              
               O
               Lord
               ,
               
                 thy
                 comforts
                 delight
                 my
                 Soul.
              
               
            
             
               
                 COMFORTS
                 .
              
               
                 It
                 is
                 the
                 advice
                 of
                 the
                 Wise
                 Man
                 ,
                 in
                 
                   Eccl.
                   7.
                   14.
                   
                   In
                   the
                   day
                   of
                   Adversity
                   consider
                   :
                
                 Now
                 there
                 are
                 these
                 comfortable
                 things
                 ,
                 which
                 it
                 is
                 fit
                 for
                 you
                 to
                 consider
                 in
                 this
                 day
                 of
                 your
                 Adversity
                 ;
                 let
                 me
                 advise
                 you
                 with
                 some
                 
                   Good
                   and
                   Comfortable
                   Words
                
                 .
              
               
                 
                   Consider
                   FIRST
                   ,
                
                 
                   Those
                   very
                   things
                   which
                   your
                   Affliction
                   lies
                   in
                   the
                   absence
                   of
                   ,
                   might
                   for
                   ought
                   you
                   can
                   say
                   ,
                   be
                   very
                   much
                   unto
                   your
                   prejudice
                   .
                
                 
                   That
                   very
                   Ioseph
                   ,
                   that
                   very
                   Simeon
                   ,
                   that
                   very
                   Benjamin
                   ,
                   which
                   you
                   are
                   Afflicted
                   for
                   the
                   want
                   of
                   ,
                   might
                   do
                   you
                   more
                   Hurt
                   than
                   Good.
                   
                
                 
                 
                   Even
                   in
                   
                     outward
                     Respects
                  
                   ,
                   you
                   canot
                   determine
                   what
                   is
                   best
                   for
                   you
                   :
                   It
                   were
                   as
                   much
                   Arrogance
                   in
                   you
                   to
                   direct
                   the
                   Providence
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   as
                   it
                   was
                   Blasphemy
                   in
                   the
                   well-known
                   Prince
                   to
                   Correct
                   the
                   Creation
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   when
                   he
                   said
                   ,
                   
                     Had
                     I
                     been
                     by
                     at
                     the
                     Making
                     of
                     the
                     World
                     ,
                     I
                     could
                     have
                     shown
                     how
                     some
                     things
                     might
                     have
                     been
                     better
                     done
                     .
                  
                   Perhaps
                   you
                   are
                   Afflicted
                   ,
                   because
                   your
                   Possessions
                   about
                   you
                   are
                   diminished
                   ;
                   but
                   have
                   you
                   not
                   read
                   in
                   Eccl.
                   5.
                   13.
                   of
                   
                     Riches
                     kept
                     to
                     the
                     hurt
                     of
                     the
                     Owners
                     :
                  
                   Many
                   a
                   Mans
                   Cash
                   has
                   been
                   his
                   Crime
                   ;
                   his
                   House
                   has
                   cost
                   him
                   his
                   Head
                   ,
                   by
                   his
                   Land
                   he
                   has
                   forfeited
                   his
                   Life
                   ;
                   the
                   poor
                   Heathen
                   of
                   old
                   ,
                   cursing
                   of
                   his
                   Enemy
                   ,
                   wished
                   that
                   he
                   might
                   be
                   a
                   
                     Rich
                     man.
                  
                   Perhaps
                   you
                   are
                   Afflicted
                   because
                   of
                   a
                   little
                   Mud
                   thrown
                   upon
                   your
                   Reputations
                   ;
                   but
                   have
                   you
                   not
                   read
                   in
                   Prov.
                   27.
                   14.
                   
                   How
                   pernicious
                   a
                   thing
                   it
                   is
                   to
                   have
                   too
                   much
                   Applause
                   in
                   the
                   World
                   ?
                   To
                   be
                   too
                   well
                   spoken
                   of
                   ,
                   procures
                   that
                   Envy
                   ,
                   before
                   which
                   ,
                   
                     Who
                     can
                     stand
                  
                   ?
                   The
                   Breath
                   in
                   the
                   Trumpet
                   of
                   Fame
                   not
                   rarely
                   carries
                   a
                   Plague
                   ,
                   and
                   a
                   Bane
                   to
                   them
                   whose
                   Names
                   it
                   founds
                   .
                   It
                   may
                   be
                   ,
                   your
                   Affliction
                   is
                   the
                   loss
                   of
                   Children
                   ;
                   well
                   ,
                   have
                   you
                   not
                   read
                   such
                   a
                   Message
                   sent
                   to
                   a
                   godly
                   Man
                   ,
                   as
                   that
                   in
                   1
                   
                     Sam.
                     2.
                     33.
                     
                     The
                     Son
                     of
                     
                     thine
                     ,
                     whom
                     I
                     shall
                     not
                     cut
                     off
                     ,
                     shall
                     be
                     to
                     consume
                     thine
                     Eyes
                     ,
                     and
                     to
                     grieve
                     thine
                     Heart
                     .
                  
                   T
                   is
                   possible
                   ,
                   that
                   if
                   thy
                   Child
                   had
                   liv'd
                   ,
                   it
                   might
                   have
                   made
                   thee
                   ,
                   
                     the
                     Father
                     of
                     a
                     Fool
                  
                   ,
                   or
                   (
                   that
                   I
                   may
                   speak
                   to
                   the
                   Sex
                   that
                   is
                   most
                   unable
                   to
                   bear
                   this
                   Trial
                   )
                   
                     the
                     Mother
                     of
                     a
                     Shame
                  
                   .
                   It
                   is
                   a
                   very
                   ordinary
                   thing
                   for
                   
                     one
                     Living
                     Child
                  
                   to
                   occasion
                   more
                   trouble
                   than
                   
                     seven
                     Dead
                     ones
                  
                   .
                
                 
                   However
                   ,
                   in
                   
                     Spiritual
                     Regards
                  
                   ,
                   you
                   may
                   be
                   exceedingly
                   harmed
                   by
                   the
                   
                     secular
                     Delights
                  
                   which
                   you
                   desire
                   ;
                   you
                   may
                   have
                   cause
                   to
                   Rue
                   what
                   you
                   Wish
                   ,
                   because
                   it
                   may
                   prove
                   an
                   Idol
                   which
                   will
                   render
                   your
                   Souls
                   like
                   the
                   
                     Barren
                     Heath
                     in
                     the
                     Wilderness
                     before
                     the
                     Lord.
                  
                   We
                   do
                   very
                   Childishly
                   often
                   cry
                   for
                   a
                   Knife
                   that
                   would
                   cut
                   the
                   Fingers
                   of
                   our
                   own
                   Souls
                   ;
                   we
                   pant
                   after
                   those
                   things
                   which
                   may
                   be
                   to
                   our
                   Souls
                   as
                   bad
                   as
                   drink
                   to
                   the
                   Thirsty
                   craving
                   Man
                   in
                   a
                   Dropsie
                   .
                   It
                   was
                   the
                   very
                   direful
                   calamity
                   of
                   the
                   ancient
                   Israelites
                   ,
                   in
                   
                     Psal.
                     105.
                     15.
                     
                     The
                     Lord
                     gave
                     them
                     their
                     Requests
                     ,
                     but
                     sent
                     leanness
                     into
                     their
                     Soul.
                  
                   A
                   Lean
                   Soul
                   ,
                   a
                   Wretched
                   Soul
                   ,
                   a
                   Soul
                   
                     pining
                     away
                     in
                     its
                     iniquities
                  
                   ,
                   is
                   oftentimes
                   the
                   effect
                   of
                   those
                   fine
                   things
                   which
                   we
                   Dote
                   upon
                   .
                   It
                   is
                   a
                   blasted
                   banned
                   Soul
                   that
                   sets
                   up
                   a
                   Creature
                   in
                   the
                   Room
                   ,
                   the
                   Throne
                   of
                   the
                   great
                   
                   God
                   ,
                   that
                   gives
                   unto
                   a
                   Creature
                   those
                   Loves
                   and
                   those
                   Cares
                   which
                   are
                   due
                   unto
                   the
                   great
                   God
                   alone
                   :
                   Such
                   Idolatry
                   the
                   Soul
                   is
                   too
                   frequently
                   by
                   Prosperity
                   seduc'd
                   unto
                   .
                   We
                   are
                   told
                   in
                   
                     Prov.
                     1.
                     32.
                     
                     The
                     prosperity
                     of
                     Fools
                     destroys
                     them
                  
                   ;
                   many
                   a
                   Fool
                   is
                   thus
                   destroy'd
                   !
                   O
                   fearful
                   case
                   !
                   A
                   full
                   Table
                   ,
                   and
                   a
                   
                     lean
                     Soul
                  
                   !
                   A
                   big
                   Title
                   ,
                   and
                   a
                   
                     lean
                     Soul
                  
                   !
                   A
                   numerous
                   Posterity
                   ,
                   and
                   a
                   Soul
                   e'n
                   like
                   the
                   Kine
                   in
                   Pharaohs
                   Dream
                   !
                   Madness
                   is
                   in
                   our
                   Hearts
                   if
                   we
                   tremble
                   not
                   at
                   this
                   ,
                   Soul-calamities
                   are
                   
                     sore
                     Calamities
                  
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   Consider
                   NEXT
                   ,
                
                 
                   The
                   benefit
                   which
                   the
                   Lord
                   intends
                   you
                   by
                   your
                   Afflictions
                   ,
                   is
                   really
                   very
                   great
                   and
                   glorious
                   .
                
                 
                   The
                   
                     sweet
                     Influences
                  
                   which
                   your
                   Afflictions
                   are
                   like
                   to
                   have
                   upon
                   you
                   ,
                   who
                   can
                   enough
                   describe
                   ?
                   If
                   you
                   lose
                   a
                   Ioseph
                   ,
                   or
                   a
                   Simeon
                   ,
                   or
                   a
                   Benjamin
                   ,
                   behold
                   these
                   are
                   
                     Spiritual
                     Blessings
                     in
                     Heavenly
                     things
                  
                   ,
                   with
                   which
                   God
                   will
                   abundantly
                   make
                   up
                   your
                   loss
                   .
                   That
                   very
                   rule
                   which
                   the
                   Lord
                   has
                   given
                   us
                   about
                   the
                   Nurture
                   of
                   
                     our
                     Children
                  
                   ,
                   He
                   observes
                   in
                   the
                   Discipline
                   of
                   
                     his
                     own
                  
                   ;
                   we
                   are
                   under
                   our
                   Heavenly
                   Fathers
                   executions
                   
                   of
                   that
                   Rule
                   ,
                   even
                   then
                   when
                   the
                   Death
                   of
                   
                     our
                     Children
                  
                   is
                   the
                   Affliction
                   under
                   which
                   we
                   labour
                   ,
                   
                     Prov.
                     23.
                     14.
                     
                     Thou
                     shalt
                     beat
                     thy
                     Child
                     with
                     the
                     Rod
                     ,
                     and
                     shalt
                     deliver
                     his
                     Soul
                     from
                     Hell.
                  
                   In
                   this
                   World
                   you
                   are
                   like
                   to
                   be
                   much
                   the
                   Wiser
                   and
                   much
                   the
                   Better
                   for
                   your
                   Afflictions
                   ,
                   and
                   much
                   the
                   more
                   Blessed
                   for
                   them
                   in
                   the
                   other
                   World
                   for
                   evermore
                   .
                   What
                   ?
                   And
                   are
                   these
                   things
                   against
                   you
                   ?
                   God
                   forbid
                   you
                   should
                   imagine
                   so
                   .
                
                 
                   I.
                   Those
                   things
                   which
                   you
                   conclude
                   to
                   be
                   against
                   you
                   ,
                   are
                   the
                   things
                   ,
                   by
                   which
                   the
                   most
                   High
                   designs
                   to
                   promote
                   your
                   KNOWLEDGE
                   .
                
                 
                   It
                   is
                   affirmed
                   in
                   Psal.
                   94.
                   12.
                   
                   That
                   those
                   
                     Whom
                     God
                     chastens
                     ,
                     he
                     also
                     teaches
                     out
                     of
                     his
                     Law.
                  
                   The
                   Almighty
                   is
                   now
                   but
                   putting
                   of
                   you
                   to
                   School
                   ,
                   and
                   
                     [
                     Schola
                     Crucis
                     est
                     Schola
                     Lucis
                     ;
                     ]
                  
                   you
                   are
                   in
                   a
                   School
                   where
                   the
                   Lord
                   will
                   have
                   you
                   to
                   learn
                   many
                   very
                   notable
                   and
                   surprizing
                   Lessons
                   :
                   God
                   will
                   have
                   Afflictions
                   to
                   be
                   the
                   Clay
                   and
                   Spittle
                   that
                   shall
                   open
                   those
                   Eyes
                   which
                   Sin
                   hath
                   blinded
                   ;
                   horrible
                   Cataracts
                   have
                   seized
                   those
                   Eyes
                   ,
                   which
                   are
                   by
                   these
                   means
                   removed
                   ;
                   the
                   Physician
                   recites
                   to
                   you
                   the
                   names
                   of
                   some
                   
                     Bitter
                     Herbs
                  
                   ,
                   which
                   the
                   Eye-sight
                   is
                   relieved
                   by
                   .
                   We
                   are
                   indeed
                   all
                   of
                   us
                   a
                   sort
                   
                   of
                   Creatures
                   which
                   can
                   see
                   best
                   in
                   the
                   Dark
                   ;
                   it
                   was
                   the
                   Aphorism
                   of
                   Solomon
                   the
                   Wise
                   ,
                   in
                   
                     Prov.
                     29.
                     15.
                     
                     The
                     Rod
                     and
                     Correction
                     give
                     Wisdom
                     .
                  
                   It
                   usually
                   comes
                   to
                   pass
                   that
                   Correction
                   and
                   Instruction
                   go
                   together
                   .
                   You
                   shall
                   find
                   that
                   II
                   
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                  
                   are
                   
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                  
                   ,
                   that
                   
                     Quae
                     Nocent
                     Docent
                  
                   ,
                   that
                   
                     Maturant
                     Aspera
                     Mentem
                  
                   ,
                   and
                   that
                   
                     Vexatio
                     dat
                     Intellectum
                  
                   ;
                   or
                   as
                   the
                   Proverb
                   of
                   the
                   Ancients
                   hath
                   it
                   ,
                   
                     In
                     Adversity
                     Men
                     find
                     Eyes
                  
                   .
                   You
                   shall
                   now
                   know
                   more
                   ;
                   but
                   hear
                   of
                   What
                   :
                
                 
                   §
                   .
                   The
                   Lord
                   resolves
                   to
                   make
                   you
                   know
                   more
                   ,
                   First
                   of
                   HIMSELF
                   :
                   We
                   have
                   been
                   miserably
                   deficient
                   in
                   the
                   
                     knowledge
                     of
                     God
                  
                   ,
                   (
                   we
                   may
                   say
                   of
                   our selves
                   ,
                   as
                   Paul
                   of
                   some
                   )
                   we
                   may
                   
                     speak
                     it
                     unto
                     our
                     shame
                  
                   ;
                   Our
                   Ignorance
                   of
                   God
                   hath
                   been
                   the
                   cause
                   of
                   ours
                   Sins
                   ;
                   
                     Heu
                     !
                     Prima
                     haec
                     scelerum
                     causa
                     est
                     mortalibus
                     aegris
                     Naturam
                     nescire
                     Dei
                     —
                  
                   And
                   our
                   Knowledge
                   of
                   God
                   will
                   be
                   the
                   effect
                   of
                   our
                   Sorrows
                   for
                   them
                   :
                   The
                   Lord
                   is
                   carrying
                   of
                   you
                   into
                   the
                   Clifts
                   of
                   a
                   cragged
                   Rock
                   ,
                   and
                   it
                   is
                   to
                   make
                   the
                   Glory
                   of
                   his
                   Attributes
                   pass
                   before
                   you
                   .
                   When
                   Iob
                   had
                   gone
                   through
                   his
                   
                     weary
                     Months
                  
                   ,
                   
                   he
                   then
                   said
                   unto
                   the
                   Lord
                   ,
                   as
                   in
                   
                     Iob.
                     42.
                     5.
                     
                     Now
                     mine
                     Eye
                     sees
                     thee
                     !
                  
                   It
                   is
                   by
                   Affliction
                   that
                   we
                   are
                   brought
                   to
                   see
                   the
                   Soveraignty
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   lie
                   before
                   him
                   as
                   
                     Clay
                     in
                     the
                     Hand
                     of
                     the
                     Potter
                  
                   ;
                   to
                   see
                   the
                   Righteousness
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   own
                   that
                   he
                   
                     punisheth
                     us
                     far
                     less
                     than
                     our
                     iniquities
                     deserve
                  
                   ;
                   to
                   see
                   the
                   Holiness
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   Reverence
                   him
                   as
                   one
                   that
                   is
                   of
                   
                     purer
                     Eyes
                     than
                     to
                     behold
                     Evil
                  
                   ;
                   to
                   see
                   the
                   Power
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   think
                   ,
                   that
                   
                     nothing
                     is
                     too
                     hard
                     for
                     the
                     Lord
                  
                   ;
                   to
                   see
                   the
                   Goodness
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   find
                   him
                   a
                   
                     rewarder
                     of
                     them
                     that
                     diligently
                     seek
                  
                   him
                   ;
                   in
                   a
                   word
                   ,
                   a
                   little
                   more
                   Affliction
                   will
                   bring
                   thee
                   to
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     Lord
                     ,
                     I
                     know
                     thy
                     Name
                     ,
                     and
                     I
                     will
                     put
                     my
                     Trust
                     in
                     thee
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   §
                   .
                   The
                   Lord
                   resolves
                   to
                   make
                   you
                   know
                   more
                   ,
                   Secondly
                   ,
                   of
                   his
                   SON
                   :
                   What
                   are
                   all
                   those
                   Afflictions
                   that
                   make
                   you
                   groan
                   ?
                   Truly
                   ,
                   they
                   are
                   a
                   few
                   Chips
                   and
                   Splinters
                   of
                   a
                   Redeemers
                   Cross
                   :
                   They
                   are
                   ,
                   as
                   't
                   is
                   said
                   ,
                   in
                   
                     Col.
                     1.
                     24.
                     
                     That
                     which
                     is
                     behind
                     of
                     the
                     Afflictions
                     of
                     Christ
                  
                   ;
                   some
                   Vinegar
                   and
                   Gall
                   was
                   left
                   by
                   him
                   for
                   us
                   to
                   pledge
                   him
                   by
                   tasting
                   of
                   :
                   God
                   will
                   thereby
                   make
                   you
                   sensible
                   a
                   little
                   of
                   the
                   Agonies
                   and
                   Anguishes
                   that
                   made
                   him
                   to
                   Roar
                   ,
                   when
                   there
                   were
                   
                     Laid
                     on
                     him
                     the
                     Iniquities
                     of
                     us
                     all
                     .
                  
                   We
                   were
                   never
                   yet
                   enough
                   affected
                   with
                   the
                   Kindness
                   of
                   our
                   Lord
                   Jesus
                   in
                   the
                   dark
                   
                   doleful
                   day
                   ,
                   when
                   he
                   
                     endured
                     the
                     Cross
                     ,
                     despising
                     the
                     Shame
                  
                   which
                   was
                   due
                   unto
                   us
                   all
                   .
                   Art
                   thou
                   Poor
                   ?
                   God
                   will
                   have
                   thee
                   call
                   to
                   mind
                   the
                   Poverty
                   which
                   thy
                   Redeemer
                   underwent
                   for
                   thy
                   sake
                   ,
                   the
                   Poverty
                   which
                   when
                   our
                   Lord
                   Inventoried
                   his
                   Estate
                   ,
                   rendred
                   the
                   
                     Sum
                     Total
                  
                   of
                   it
                   only
                   this
                   ,
                   
                     The
                     Son
                     of
                     Man
                     hath
                     not
                     where
                     to
                     lay
                     his
                     Head.
                  
                   Art
                   thou
                   Pained
                   ?
                   God
                   will
                   have
                   thee
                   mindful
                   of
                   the
                   
                     strong
                     Pains
                  
                   which
                   thy
                   Redeemer
                   felt
                   ,
                   when
                   his
                   Flesh
                   was
                   torn
                   from
                   his
                   Bones
                   ,
                   when
                   from
                   Head
                   to
                   Foot
                   bloody
                   Wounds
                   and
                   Stripes
                   and
                   Stabs
                   were
                   to
                   be
                   seen
                   upon
                   him
                   .
                   Art
                   thou
                   Fearful
                   ?
                   God
                   will
                   have
                   thee
                   bear
                   in
                   mind
                   ,
                   the
                   horrible
                   Consternation
                   which
                   caused
                   thy
                   Redeemer
                   to
                   Sweat
                   clots
                   of
                   Blood
                   ,
                   tho'
                   in
                   a
                   cold
                   Night
                   he
                   were
                   groveling
                   on
                   the
                   cold
                   Ground
                   .
                   Art
                   thou
                   Disgraced
                   ?
                   God
                   will
                   have
                   thee
                   mindful
                   of
                   the
                   Ignominy
                   cast
                   upon
                   thy
                   Saviour
                   ,
                   when
                   he
                   was
                   used
                   as
                   a
                   Traytor
                   ,
                   as
                   all
                   that
                   was
                   Vile
                   ,
                   and
                   when
                   the
                   basest
                   fellow
                   in
                   the
                   City
                   was
                   counted
                   a
                   better
                   Man
                   than
                   he
                   .
                   Do
                   thy
                   Friends
                   deal
                   unworthily
                   ?
                   Thou
                   shalt
                   then
                   learn
                   what
                   the
                   Exercise
                   of
                   thy
                   Redeemer
                   was
                   ,
                   when
                   even
                   those
                   of
                   his
                   own
                   Family
                   ,
                   
                     all
                     forsook
                     him
                     and
                     fled
                  
                   :
                   these
                   things
                   Affliction
                   will
                   make
                   us
                   Thoughtful
                   of
                   ,
                   and
                   Thankful
                   for
                   :
                   And
                   as
                   the
                   Kindness
                   of
                   a
                   Iesus
                   ,
                   so
                   the
                   Value
                   of
                   a
                   
                   Iesus
                   ,
                   comes
                   to
                   be
                   duly
                   rated
                   by
                   such
                   means
                   as
                   these
                   .
                   The
                   Afflicted
                   man
                   is
                   driven
                   to
                   call
                   every
                   
                     Creature
                     ,
                     A
                     lying
                     Vanity
                  
                   ,
                   and
                   from
                   hence
                   he
                   comes
                   to
                   call
                   a
                   
                     Christ
                     ,
                     The
                     Pearl
                     of
                     great
                     Price
                     :
                  
                   It
                   hath
                   been
                   said
                   ,
                   
                     Vnto
                     you
                     that
                     are
                     Believers
                     he
                     is
                     Precious
                  
                   ;
                   we
                   may
                   add
                   ,
                   
                     He
                     is
                     Precious
                     to
                     you
                     that
                     are
                     Afflicted
                  
                   also
                   .
                   The
                   Afflicted
                   man
                   finds
                   that
                   Gold
                   it self
                   will
                   do
                   him
                   no
                   good
                   ;
                   whereupon
                   a
                   Saviour
                   becomes
                   more
                   desirable
                   than
                   whole
                   Mountains
                   of
                   
                     Ophirs
                     Gold
                  
                   unto
                   him
                   .
                
                 
                   §
                   .
                   The
                   Lord
                   resolves
                   to
                   make
                   you
                   know
                   more
                   ,
                   Thirdly
                   ,
                   Of
                   his
                   WORD
                   .
                   There
                   is
                   a
                   Glorious
                   Letter
                   which
                   the
                   God
                   of
                   Heaven
                   ,
                   hath
                   sent
                   from
                   the
                   Third
                   Heaven
                   unto
                   the
                   Children
                   of
                   Men.
                   Foolish
                   man
                   often
                   throws
                   it
                   by
                   like
                   Wast-paper
                   ,
                   until
                   Affliction
                   puts
                   him
                   upon
                   the
                   due
                   ,
                   the
                   diligent
                   study
                   of
                   it
                   .
                   David
                   that
                   had
                   a
                   
                     lesser
                     Bible
                  
                   than
                   we
                   ,
                   could
                   say
                   in
                   
                     Psal.
                     119.
                     23.
                     
                     Princes
                     did
                     sit
                     and
                     speak
                     against
                     me
                  
                   ;
                   but
                   what
                   was
                   the
                   issue
                   of
                   the
                   Affliction
                   which
                   the
                   Calumny
                   and
                   Obloquy
                   of
                   his
                   Persecutors
                   gave
                   unto
                   him
                   ?
                   It
                   follows
                   ,
                   
                     Thy
                     Servant
                     did
                     Meditate
                     on
                     thy
                     Statutes
                     .
                  
                   Bad
                   weather
                   in
                   the
                   World
                   makes
                   Afflicted
                   men
                   to
                   keep
                   their
                   Eyes
                   much
                   upon
                   the
                   
                     Light
                     shining
                     in
                     a
                     Dark
                     place
                  
                   unto
                   them
                   .
                   To
                   Meditate
                   on
                   a
                   fit
                   portion
                   of
                   the
                   Bible
                   ,
                   dwelling
                   on
                   every
                   Verse
                   ,
                   till
                   at
                   least
                   one
                   Observation
                   and
                   one
                   
                   Supplication
                   be
                   drawn
                   from
                   it
                   ;
                   hath
                   not
                   seldomer
                   been
                   the
                   Ease
                   ,
                   than
                   it
                   hath
                   been
                   the
                   Work
                   of
                   Afflicted
                   Men
                   :
                   And
                   God
                   will
                   hereby
                   help
                   you
                   ,
                   as
                   to
                   a
                   better
                   Relish
                   of
                   ,
                   so
                   to
                   a
                   fuller
                   Comment
                   on
                   these
                   Miraculous
                   Lines
                   than
                   once
                   you
                   had
                   :
                   The
                   bitter
                   Tang
                   of
                   Afflictions
                   will
                   bring
                   you
                   to
                   a
                   better
                   Taste
                   of
                   that
                   Book
                   ,
                   whereof
                   the
                   Psalmist
                   could
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     How
                     sweet
                     are
                     thy
                     words
                     unto
                     my
                     Taste
                     !
                  
                   A
                   Leaf
                   of
                   the
                   Bible
                   appears
                   (
                   as
                   to
                   Luther
                   )
                   not
                   to
                   be
                   parted
                   withall
                   for
                   
                     all
                     this
                     whole
                     World
                  
                   ;
                   chiefly
                   unto
                   those
                   whom
                   Affliction
                   hath
                   convinced
                   of
                   the
                   Vanity
                   and
                   Vexation
                   here
                   .
                   But
                   this
                   is
                   not
                   all
                   ;
                   the
                   best
                   Expositors
                   of
                   not
                   a
                   few
                   Assertions
                   in
                   the
                   Bible
                   are
                   some
                   sore
                   Afflictions
                   in
                   the
                   World.
                   The
                   Stars
                   and
                   the
                   Scriptures
                   are
                   seen
                   best
                   in
                   a
                   Frosty
                   Night
                   .
                   The
                   Mysteries
                   of
                   a
                   
                     Well-ordered
                     Covenant
                  
                   ,
                   the
                   Maeanders
                   of
                   a
                   
                     Deceitful
                     Heart
                  
                   ,
                   the
                   worth
                   and
                   use
                   of
                   
                     Great
                     and
                     Precious
                     promises
                  
                   ,
                   you
                   will
                   best
                   understand
                   in
                   your
                   Afflicted
                   Hours
                   .
                   Adversity
                   makes
                   a
                   Verse
                   of
                   Scripture
                   to
                   be
                   not
                   like
                   a
                   Verse
                   of
                   Ovid
                   ,
                   as
                   it
                   often
                   is
                   to
                   them
                   that
                   
                     are
                     not
                     in
                     Trouble
                     as
                     other
                     men
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   §
                   The
                   Lord
                   resolves
                   to
                   make
                   you
                   know
                   more
                   ,
                   Fourthly
                   ,
                   of
                   YOUR SELVES
                   .
                   The
                   Golden
                   Rule
                   ,
                   
                     Know
                     thy self
                  
                   ,
                   is
                   that
                   which
                   our
                   God
                   will
                   have
                   us
                   Learn
                   ,
                   while
                   we
                   
                     feel
                     his
                     Rod.
                     A
                     Wound
                  
                   will
                   convince
                   an
                   
                   Emperour
                   that
                   he
                   is
                   
                     a
                     Man.
                  
                   It
                   was
                   said
                   unto
                   Israel
                   in
                   Deut.
                   8.
                   2.
                   
                   The
                   Lord
                   Humbled
                   them
                   ,
                   that
                   
                     what
                     was
                     in
                     their
                     Hearts
                  
                   might
                   be
                   known
                   :
                   God
                   will
                   have
                   us
                   to
                   see
                   our
                   own
                   Follies
                   and
                   be
                   Ashamed
                   .
                   God
                   will
                   have
                   us
                   to
                   see
                   our
                   own
                   Graces
                   and
                   be
                   Refreshed
                   ;
                   and
                   in
                   the
                   Furnace
                   of
                   Affliction
                   we
                   must
                   undergo
                   a
                   
                     Fiery
                     Tryal
                  
                   in
                   order
                   thereunto
                   .
                   
                     Scilicet
                     ut
                     Fulvum
                     spectatur
                     in
                     Ignibus
                     Aurum
                     —
                  
                   Under
                   Affliction
                   ,
                   as
                   God
                   will
                   bring
                   you
                   to
                   say
                   of
                   your selves
                   ,
                   
                     I
                     have
                     perverted
                     that
                     which
                     is
                     Right
                     ,
                  
                   so
                   he
                   will
                   find
                   occasion
                   for
                   you
                   to
                   hear
                   him
                   saying
                   to
                   you
                   ,
                   
                     Now
                     I
                     know
                     that
                     thou
                     fearest
                     me
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   §
                   .
                   But
                   where
                   shall
                   I
                   stop
                   ?
                   About
                   the
                   advancements
                   of
                   Sight
                   procured
                   by
                   Affliction
                   ,
                   I
                   may
                   say
                   as
                   about
                   the
                   Instances
                   of
                   Faith
                   ,
                   it
                   is
                   said
                   by
                   the
                   Apostle
                   ,
                   
                     The
                     time
                     would
                     fail
                     me
                     to
                     mention
                     them
                     :
                  
                   Yet
                   let
                   me
                   briefly
                   add
                   ;
                   By
                   the
                   Afflictions
                   whereof
                   you
                   complain
                   ,
                   God
                   will
                   bring
                   you
                   to
                   Know
                   what
                   SIN
                   is
                   .
                   You
                   that
                   formerly
                   counted
                   
                     Stollen
                     Waters
                     are
                     Sweet
                  
                   ,
                   shall
                   now
                   see
                   Sin
                   in
                   a
                   truer
                   uglier
                   dress
                   ;
                   you
                   shall
                   see
                   that
                   it
                   is
                   as
                   in
                   
                     Ier.
                     44.
                     4.
                     
                     The
                     abominable
                     thing
                     ,
                     which
                     I
                     hate
                     ,
                     saith
                     the
                     Lord.
                  
                   God
                   will
                   also
                   bring
                   you
                   to
                   Know
                   what
                   RELIGION
                   is
                   :
                   You
                   that
                   sometimes
                   have
                   said
                   ,
                   
                     It
                     is
                     in
                     vain
                     to
                     serve
                     the
                     Lord
                     ,
                  
                   shall
                   now
                   be
                   reduced
                   unto
                   better
                   Sentiments
                   ;
                   you
                   will
                   soon
                   believe
                   
                   that
                   in
                   
                     Psal.
                     111.
                     10.
                     
                     The
                     fear
                     of
                     the
                     Lord
                     is
                     the
                     beginning
                     of
                     Wisdom
                     .
                  
                   Finally
                   ,
                   God
                   will
                   bring
                   you
                   to
                   Know
                   what
                   all
                   
                     Sublunary
                     things
                  
                   are
                   .
                   You
                   have
                   had
                   your
                   too
                   
                     high
                     Thoughts
                  
                   in
                   your
                   
                     good
                     Times
                  
                   ;
                   then
                   your
                   Song
                   was
                   ,
                   
                     My
                     Mountain
                     is
                     made
                     strong
                  
                   .
                   God
                   will
                   now
                   show
                   you
                   what
                   Creatures
                   are
                   ,
                   and
                   give
                   you
                   cause
                   to
                   say
                   of
                   them
                   ,
                   
                     They
                     are
                     all
                     Physicians
                     of
                     no
                     value
                     ,
                  
                   and
                   
                     They
                     are
                     broken
                     Cisterns
                     that
                     can
                     hold
                     no
                     Water
                     .
                  
                   Well
                   then
                   ;
                   say
                   not
                   ,
                   
                     All
                     these
                     things
                     are
                     against
                     me
                     :
                  
                   It
                   is
                   a
                   matchless
                   Priviledge
                   to
                   be
                   thus
                   
                     Taught
                     of
                     God.
                  
                   We
                   are
                   told
                   in
                   
                     Eccl.
                     1.
                     18.
                     
                     He
                     that
                     increaseth
                     Knowledge
                     ,
                     increaseth
                     Sorrow
                     :
                  
                   Behold
                   ,
                   we
                   may
                   Invert
                   the
                   Words
                   ,
                   and
                   not
                   Injure
                   the
                   Truth
                   ,
                   
                     Increase
                     of
                     Sorrow
                     brings
                     increase
                     of
                     Knowledge
                     with
                     it
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   II
                   
                     Those
                     things
                     which
                     you
                     conclude
                     to
                     be
                     against
                     you
                     ,
                     are
                     the
                     things
                     by
                     which
                     the
                     most
                     High
                     designs
                     to
                     promote
                     your
                  
                   VERTUE
                   also
                   .
                
                 
                   The
                   interest
                   of
                   Holiness
                   will
                   be
                   marvellously
                   befriended
                   in
                   your
                   Souls
                   and
                   Lives
                   ,
                   by
                   the
                   influence
                   of
                   Affliction
                   ;
                   we
                   are
                   told
                   in
                   
                     Heb.
                     12.
                     10.
                     
                     That
                     God
                     chastens
                     us
                     ,
                  
                   to
                   make
                   us
                   
                     partakers
                     of
                     his
                     Holiness
                  
                   ;
                   that
                   Holiness
                   which
                   he
                   does
                   like
                   ,
                   and
                   which
                   is
                   like
                   to
                   himself
                   :
                   These
                   Three
                   will
                   the
                   Holy
                   Effects
                   of
                   your
                   Affliction
                   be
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   §
                   .
                   Your
                   Afflictions
                   will
                   ,
                   First
                   ,
                   Help
                   your
                   Disorders
                   .
                   Your
                   Souls
                   are
                   depraved
                   with
                   ,
                   or
                   exposed
                   to
                   dangerous
                   deadly
                   Disorders
                   and
                   Distempers
                   :
                   By
                   Afflictions
                   your
                   Heavenly
                   Father
                   will
                   Prevent
                   them
                   ;
                   by
                   Afflictions
                   he
                   will
                   Redress
                   them
                   .
                   What
                   are
                   you
                   Afflicted
                   for
                   ?
                   See
                   a
                   short
                   and
                   a
                   sweet
                   account
                   given
                   of
                   this
                   Physick
                   ,
                   in
                   
                     Isa.
                     27.
                     9.
                     
                     By
                     this
                     the
                     iniquity
                     of
                  
                   Jacob
                   
                     shall
                     be
                     purged
                     ,
                     and
                     all
                     the
                     Fruit
                     shall
                     be
                     to
                     take
                     away
                     his
                     Sin.
                  
                   The
                   
                     first
                     ways
                  
                   of
                   David
                   were
                   his
                   
                     best
                     ways
                  
                   .
                   Why
                   so
                   ?
                   Truly
                   ,
                   it
                   was
                   because
                   the
                   
                     first
                     days
                  
                   of
                   David
                   were
                   his
                   
                     worst
                     days
                  
                   :
                   He
                   doth
                   himself
                   assign
                   this
                   reason
                   of
                   it
                   ,
                   
                     Psal.
                     119.
                     67.
                     
                     Before
                     I
                     was
                     Afflicted
                     I
                     went
                     astray
                     ,
                     but
                     now
                     I
                     have
                     kept
                     thy
                     word
                     .
                  
                   Usually
                   men
                   Sin
                   least
                   when
                   they
                   Suffer
                   most
                   .
                   God
                   will
                   have
                   
                     thy
                     ways
                  
                   too
                   to
                   be
                   
                     good
                     ways
                  
                   ;
                   they
                   shall
                   therefore
                   be
                   
                     ways
                     Hedg'd
                     with
                     Thorns
                  
                   ,
                   that
                   thy
                   Soul
                   may
                   not
                   step
                   awry
                   :
                   Thy
                   way
                   must
                   be
                   incommoded
                   by
                   Thorns
                   ,
                   that
                   it
                   may
                   not
                   be
                   over-run
                   with
                   Weeds
                   .
                   There
                   are
                   great
                   Sins
                   which
                   thy
                   wild
                   Lusts
                   would
                   hurry
                   thee
                   on
                   unto
                   ;
                   there
                   is
                   a
                   Madness
                   in
                   thy
                   Heart
                   that
                   would
                   produce
                   all
                   manner
                   of
                   Mischief
                   in
                   thy
                   Life
                   ,
                   if
                   restraint
                   be
                   not
                   laid
                   upon
                   it
                   ;
                   now
                   the
                   Iron
                   Chains
                   of
                   Affliction
                   are
                   clapt
                   upon
                   thee
                   to
                   keep
                   thee
                   from
                   thy
                   Exorbitancies
                   .
                   What
                   is
                   said
                   concerning
                   the
                   good
                   Subjects
                   of
                   the
                   Ancient
                   
                   
                     Typical
                     ,
                     Antiochal
                  
                   Perfecution
                   ,
                   in
                   Dan.
                   11.
                   35.
                   is
                   to
                   be
                   said
                   concerning
                   the
                   good
                   Subjects
                   of
                   any
                   Affliction
                   whatsoever
                   ,
                   
                     They
                     are
                     Purged
                     and
                     made
                     White
                     thereby
                     .
                  
                   This
                   more
                   generally
                   ;
                   but
                   more
                   particularly
                   ,
                   I
                   would
                   add
                   :
                
                 
                   §
                   .
                   Again
                   ,
                   Your
                   Affictions
                   will
                   wean
                   your
                   Afflections
                   from
                   the
                   wrong
                   Objects
                   of
                   them
                   .
                   God
                   will
                   have
                   you
                   to
                   look
                   upon
                   all
                   things
                   here
                   below
                   with
                   such
                   Affections
                   as
                   David
                   had
                   for
                   a
                   Kingdom
                   in
                   an
                   Exile
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     I
                     am
                     as
                     a
                     weaned
                     Child
                     .
                  
                   To
                   this
                   end
                   the
                   Lord
                   by
                   Afflictions
                   layes
                   Wormwood
                   on
                   the
                   Breasts
                   which
                   you
                   have
                   hung
                   too
                   much
                   upon
                   .
                   He
                   will
                   cause
                   Creatures
                   to
                   be
                   our
                   Grief
                   that
                   they
                   may
                   not
                   be
                   our
                   
                     God.
                     Tertullian
                  
                   said
                   very
                   true
                   of
                   Idolatry
                   ,
                   It
                   is
                   
                     praecipuum
                     crimen
                     Humani
                     generis
                  
                   ,
                   the
                   
                     grand
                     Crime
                  
                   of
                   Mankind
                   :
                   Affliction
                   mortifies
                   that
                   Rebellion
                   ;
                   therefore
                   ,
                   David
                   ,
                   are
                   thy
                   Children
                   cut
                   off
                   :
                   therefore
                   ,
                   Iacob
                   ,
                   is
                   the
                   Wife
                   of
                   thy
                   Bosom
                   snatched
                   out
                   of
                   it
                   ;
                   therefore
                   ,
                   Hezekiah
                   ,
                   is
                   thy
                   Treasure
                   blasted
                   and
                   wasted
                   :
                   It
                   is
                   that
                   
                     Idolatrous
                     Affections
                  
                   may
                   be
                   recalled
                   .
                
                 
                   §
                   .
                   Once
                   more
                   ;
                   both
                   your
                   Graces
                   and
                   your
                   Duties
                   will
                   be
                   quickened
                   by
                   your
                   
                     Afflictions
                     .
                     Afflictions
                  
                   will
                   prove
                   the
                   Weights
                   by
                   the
                   Hanging
                   whereof
                   upon
                   you
                   ,
                   you
                   shall
                   more
                   flourish
                   like
                   Palm-trees
                   in
                   the
                   
                   Court-yards
                   of
                   the
                   Lord
                   :
                   Afflictions
                   will
                   be
                   the
                   Feet
                   which
                   by
                   treading
                   upon
                   you
                   ,
                   will
                   make
                   you
                   as
                   the
                   Chamomil
                   ,
                   to
                   grow
                   the
                   more
                   .
                   Afflictions
                   will
                   be
                   the
                   Fires
                   ,
                   which
                   like
                   Viols
                   ,
                   you
                   shall
                   make
                   the
                   better
                   Musick
                   by
                   being
                   disposed
                   near
                   unto
                   :
                   Afflictions
                   will
                   be
                   the
                   Spurs
                   which
                   shall
                   cause
                   you
                   to
                   mend
                   your
                   pace
                   in
                   
                     Running
                     the
                     Race
                     which
                     is
                     set
                     before
                     you
                     .
                     Afflictions
                  
                   —
                   But
                   room
                   for
                   enlargement
                   is
                   denyed
                   —
                   In
                   short
                   ;
                   God
                   by
                   Afflictions
                   is
                   as
                   it
                   were
                   pounding
                   or
                   grinding
                   of
                   his
                   rare
                   Spices
                   in
                   your
                   Souls
                   ,
                   the
                   scent
                   of
                   them
                   will
                   now
                   become
                   very
                   Fragrant
                   ,
                   very
                   Glorious
                   .
                   We
                   have
                   heard
                   in
                   
                     Eccl.
                     7.
                     3.
                     
                     By
                     the
                     sadness
                     of
                     the
                     Countenance
                     ,
                     the
                     Heart
                     is
                     made
                     better
                     :
                  
                   God
                   will
                   make
                   that
                   Heart
                   of
                   thine
                   very
                   Serious
                   ,
                   very
                   Circumspect
                   ,
                   very
                   Spiritual
                   ,
                   and
                   very
                   Heavenly
                   by
                   the
                   Afflictions
                   which
                   thou
                   art
                   prone
                   to
                   quarrel
                   at
                   .
                
                 
                   O'then
                   say
                   not
                   ,
                   
                     All
                     these
                     things
                     are
                     against
                     me
                  
                   ;
                   the
                   price
                   of
                   these
                   things
                   is
                   
                     above
                     Rubies
                  
                   .
                   Well
                   faith
                   the
                   sentence
                   of
                   the
                   Ancient
                   ,
                   
                     O
                     servum
                     illum
                     Beatum
                     ,
                     cujus
                     emendationi
                     Deus
                     instat
                     ,
                     &
                     cut
                     dignatur
                     (
                     sic
                     )
                     Irasci
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   III.
                   
                     The
                     most
                     High
                     designs
                     likewise
                     by
                     the
                     Afflictions
                     to
                     promote
                     your
                  
                   HEAVEN
                   
                     for
                     ever
                     more
                  
                   .
                
                 
                   The
                   Speech
                   of
                   the
                   Apostle
                   to
                   this
                   purpose
                   is
                   very
                   Emphatical
                   ,
                   2
                   Cor.
                   4.
                   17.
                   
                   
                   
                     Our
                     light
                     Affliction
                     here
                     ,
                     which
                     is
                     but
                     for
                     a
                     Moment
                     ,
                     works
                     for
                     us
                     a
                     far
                     more
                     Exceeding
                     and
                     Eternal
                     weight
                     of
                     Glory
                     .
                  
                   O
                   surprizing
                   connexion
                   !
                   
                     Light
                     Afflictions
                  
                   work
                   a
                   
                     Weight
                     of
                     Glory
                     !
                     Afflictions
                     for
                     a
                     Moment
                  
                   work
                   a
                   
                     Glory
                     Eternal
                  
                   ;
                   and
                   this
                   Glory
                   shall
                   be
                   a
                   
                     far
                     more
                     Exceeding
                     Glory
                  
                   ;
                   or
                   ,
                   as
                   the
                   Original
                   intimates
                   ,
                   a
                   Glory
                   which
                   no
                   Hyperbole
                   upon
                   Hyperbole
                   can
                   give
                   a
                   too
                   Glorious
                   Character
                   of
                   !
                   Your
                   Afflictions
                   do
                   prepare
                   you
                   for
                   ,
                   tho'
                   they
                   do
                   not
                   purchase
                   for
                   you
                   ,
                   the
                   Glories
                   of
                   the
                   World
                   to
                   come
                   .
                   The
                   Hebrew
                   word
                   for
                   Glory
                   signifies
                   the
                   same
                   that
                   your
                   own
                   sense
                   of
                   Affliction
                   feels
                   ,
                   
                     a
                     Weighty
                     thing
                  
                   .
                   Well
                   ,
                   from
                   the
                   one
                   Weight
                   you
                   shall
                   pass
                   to
                   the
                   other
                   .
                   Your
                   Crown
                   of
                   Thorns
                   will
                   shortly
                   be
                   turned
                   into
                   a
                   Crown
                   of
                   Glory
                   ;
                   a
                   Weighty
                   ,
                   a
                   Massy
                   ,
                   a
                   never-fading
                   Crown
                   .
                   A
                   Roman
                   Emperour
                   once
                   rewarded
                   one
                   that
                   wore
                   an
                   
                     Iron
                     Chain
                  
                   in
                   a
                   Prison
                   for
                   his
                   sake
                   ,
                   with
                   a
                   
                     Golden
                     Chain
                  
                   as
                   heavy
                   in
                   a
                   Preferment
                   afterward
                   :
                   Such
                   ,
                   and
                   more
                   than
                   such
                   at
                   last
                   will
                   be
                   thy
                   Felicity
                   .
                   Art
                   thou
                   Afflicted
                   ?
                   Be
                   assured
                   ,
                   —
                   
                     Dolor
                     hic
                     tibi
                     proder
                     it
                     olim
                     .
                  
                   After
                   thy
                   Sowing
                   time
                   in
                   Tears
                   ,
                   thou
                   shalt
                   have
                   a
                   Reaping
                   time
                   in
                   Ioy
                   ;
                   after
                   thy
                   
                     Bread
                     of
                     Adversity
                  
                   ,
                   thou
                   shalt
                   come
                   to
                   Eat
                   of
                   the
                   
                     Tree
                     of
                     Life
                     in
                     the
                     midst
                     of
                     the
                     Paradise
                     of
                     God
                  
                   ;
                   after
                   thy
                   
                     Water
                     of
                     Affliction
                  
                   ,
                   thou
                   
                   shalt
                   come
                   to
                   Drink
                   of
                   
                     the
                     River
                     of
                     Pleasures
                     at
                     Gods
                     right
                     Hand
                     for
                     evermore
                     .
                  
                   Let
                   me
                   say
                   to
                   thee
                   as
                   the
                   Martyr
                   to
                   his
                   Friend
                   ,
                   
                     Thy
                     Affliction
                     will
                     scour
                     and
                     rub
                     thee
                     bright
                     ,
                     that
                     thou
                     mayst
                     be
                     fit
                     to
                     be
                     set
                     upon
                     an
                     high
                     Shelf
                     in
                     Heaven
                     for
                     ever
                     :
                  
                   or
                   ,
                   let
                   me
                   say
                   to
                   thee
                   as
                   the
                   Martyr
                   to
                   himself
                   ,
                   
                     Hold
                     out
                     Faith
                     and
                     Patience
                     ,
                     Heaven
                     will
                     quickly
                     make
                     amends
                     for
                     all
                     .
                  
                   Thou
                   shalt
                   have
                   the
                   more
                   of
                   Heaven
                   for
                   all
                   thy
                   past
                   Heaviness
                   ;
                   thou
                   shalt
                   e're
                   long
                   be
                   received
                   into
                   the
                   place
                   of
                   Rest
                   ,
                   and
                   there
                   all
                   thy
                   former
                   Difficulties
                   will
                   but
                   sweeten
                   the
                   
                     Times
                     of
                     Refreshing
                  
                   which
                   now
                   come
                   
                     from
                     the
                     Presence
                     of
                     the
                     Lord.
                     
                  
                
                 
                   Say
                   now
                   ,
                   O
                   Believer
                   ,
                   Are
                   all
                   these
                   things
                   Against
                   thee
                   ?
                   O
                   what
                   things
                   can
                   be
                   for
                   thy
                   Good
                   ,
                   if
                   these
                   are
                   not
                   so
                   ?
                   Sit
                   down
                   then
                   ,
                   and
                   whatever
                   thy
                   Afflictions
                   are
                   ,
                   let
                   these
                   words
                   of
                   the
                   Lord
                   Jesus
                   al-lay
                   thy
                   Storms
                   .
                   Do
                   not
                   now
                   practically
                   
                     say
                     ,
                     These
                     Consolations
                     of
                     God
                     are
                     small
                     :
                  
                   Behold
                   ,
                   thou
                   art
                   furnished
                   with
                   
                     strong
                     Consolations
                  
                   .
                
              
            
             
               
                 Counsels
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 that
                 you
                 may
                 be
                 able
                 to
                 apply
                 these
                 Consolations
                 unto
                 good
                 purpose
                 ,
                 under
                 Affliction
                 there
                 are
                 some
                 Counsels
                 to
                 be
                 set
                 before
                 you
                 .
                 In
                 so
                 many
                 Scriptures
                 you
                 shall
                 
                 therefore
                 have
                 so
                 many
                 Counsels
                 ;
                 they
                 will
                 be
                 both
                 best
                 Received
                 and
                 best
                 Remembred
                 if
                 they
                 come
                 unto
                 you
                 with
                 a
                 ,
                 
                   Thus
                   saith
                   the
                   Lord.
                
                 
              
               
                 
                   The
                   First
                   Counsel
                   proper
                   for
                   you
                   ,
                   is
                   intimated
                   in
                
                 
                   
                     Eph.
                     1.
                     3.
                     
                  
                   
                     Blessed
                     be
                     the
                     God
                     and
                     Father
                     of
                     our
                     Lord
                     Iesus
                     Christ
                     ,
                     who
                     hath
                     blessed
                     us
                     with
                     all
                     Spiritual
                     blessings
                     in
                     Heavenly
                     matters
                     in
                     Christ.
                     
                  
                
                 
                   Count
                   
                     Spiritual
                     Blessings
                  
                   the
                   most
                   
                     Desirable
                     Blessings
                  
                   .
                   A
                   sufferer
                   should
                   be
                   a
                   Solomon
                   ;
                   under
                   Affliction
                   be
                   of
                   his
                   temper
                   who
                   in
                   2
                   Chron.
                   1.
                   5.
                   counted
                   Wisdom
                   preferrable
                   to
                   Riches
                   and
                   Honours
                   and
                   Life
                   it self
                   .
                   Count
                   an
                   Acquaintance
                   with
                   God
                   ,
                   that
                   thing
                   by
                   which
                   
                     Good
                     will
                     come
                  
                   unto
                   you
                   ;
                   then
                   you
                   will
                   not
                   count
                   Afflictions
                   from
                   God
                   ,
                   the
                   thing
                   which
                   is
                   Against
                   you
                   .
                   On
                   one
                   side
                   ,
                   be
                   sure
                   to
                   judge
                   so
                   ,
                   
                     If
                     I
                     lose
                     in
                     Temporals
                     and
                     get
                     in
                     Spirituals
                     ,
                     I
                     am
                     an
                     abundant
                     Gainer
                     .
                  
                   Be
                   sure
                   to
                   judge
                   so
                   on
                   the
                   other
                   side
                   ,
                   
                     If
                     I
                     lose
                     in
                     Spirituals
                     and
                     get
                     in
                     Temporals
                     ,
                     it
                     certainly
                     fares
                     very
                     Ill
                     with
                     me
                     .
                  
                   Souls
                   ,
                   let
                   SIN
                   be
                   the
                   only
                   thing
                   of
                   which
                   you
                   will
                   absolutely
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     It
                     is
                     Against
                     me
                  
                   :
                   But
                   of
                   every
                   thing
                   which
                   makes
                   you
                   more
                   conformed
                   unto
                   Jesus
                   Christ
                   ,
                   say
                   ,
                   
                   
                     This
                     is
                     for
                     me
                  
                   :
                   O
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     This
                     is
                     all
                     my
                     Salvation
                     ,
                     and
                     all
                     my
                     Desire
                     .
                  
                
              
               
                 
                   The
                   Second
                   Counsel
                   pertaining
                   to
                   you
                   ,
                   is
                   expressed
                   in
                
                 
                   
                     Jam.
                     5.
                     13.
                     
                  
                   
                     Is
                     any
                     among
                     you
                     Afflicted
                     ?
                     Let
                     him
                     Pray
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   A
                   time
                   of
                   Affliction
                   should
                   be
                   a
                   time
                   of
                   Supplication
                   .
                   It
                   was
                   the
                   Precept
                   of
                   a
                   good
                   God
                   ,
                   in
                   
                     Psal.
                     50.
                     15.
                     
                     Call
                     upon
                     me
                     in
                     the
                     day
                     of
                     Trouble
                     :
                  
                   And
                   it
                   was
                   the
                   Purpose
                   of
                   a
                   good
                   Man
                   ,
                   in
                   Psal.
                   86.
                   7.
                   
                   Lord
                   ,
                   
                     In
                     the
                     day
                     of
                     my
                     Trouble
                     ,
                     I
                     will
                     call
                     upon
                     thee
                     .
                  
                   Has
                   any
                   remarkable
                   Affliction
                   befallen
                   thee
                   ?
                   I
                   would
                   seriously
                   ask
                   ,
                   
                     Was
                     not
                     the
                     Spirit
                     of
                     Prayer
                     abated
                     in
                     thee
                     before
                     that
                     Affliction
                     came
                     ?
                  
                   Let
                   me
                   then
                   a
                   little
                   alter
                   the
                   words
                   of
                   Deborah
                   ,
                   and
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     Awake
                     ,
                     awake
                     ,
                     O
                     Soul
                     ,
                     awake
                     ,
                     awake
                     ,
                     and
                     utter
                     a
                     Prayer
                     .
                  
                   The
                   Title
                   of
                   the
                   Hundred
                   and
                   second
                   Psalm
                   showes
                   the
                   Duty
                   of
                   all
                   Afflicted
                   men
                   ;
                   there
                   should
                   be
                   ,
                   
                     A
                     Prayer
                     made
                     by
                     the
                     Afflicted
                     when
                     he
                     is
                     overwhelmed
                     ,
                     and
                     he
                     should
                     pour
                     out
                     his
                     complaint
                     before
                     the
                     Lord.
                  
                   It
                   was
                   a
                   very
                   wise
                   proposal
                   of
                   Eliphaz
                   ,
                   in
                   
                     Iob
                     5.
                     6
                     ,
                     8.
                     
                     Affliction
                     comes
                     not
                     forth
                     of
                     the
                     Dust
                     ,
                     nor
                     doth
                     Trouble
                     spring
                     out
                     of
                     the
                     Ground
                     :
                  
                   It
                   may
                   be
                   thou
                   hast
                   lost
                   a
                   desirable
                   piece
                   of
                   Dust
                   ,
                   it
                   may
                   be
                   one
                   of
                   thy
                   Delights
                   is
                   put
                   into
                   the
                   
                   Ground
                   :
                   O
                   look
                   up
                   ,
                   look
                   above
                   Chance
                   ,
                   look
                   beyond
                   all
                   
                     second
                     Causes
                  
                   :
                   't
                   is
                   added
                   ,
                   
                     I
                     would
                     seek
                     unto
                     God
                  
                   ;
                   the
                   most
                   advisable
                   thing
                   in
                   the
                   World
                   !
                   We
                   are
                   in
                   Affliction
                   prone
                   to
                   make
                   sad
                   complaints
                   unto
                   our
                   Fellow-worms
                   ;
                   unto
                   them
                   we
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     O
                     my
                     Dead
                     Infant
                  
                   !
                   or
                   ,
                   
                     O
                     my
                     Lost
                     Estate
                  
                   !
                   But
                   Iob
                   found
                   cause
                   to
                   say
                   ,
                   in
                   
                     ch
                     .
                     21.
                     4.
                     
                     Is
                     my
                     complaint
                     to
                     Man
                     ?
                     If
                     it
                     were
                     so
                     ,
                     Why
                     should
                     not
                     my
                     Spirit
                     be
                     Troubled
                     ?
                  
                   Then
                   let
                   us
                   not
                   keep
                   saying
                   ,
                   
                     Have
                     pity
                     on
                     me
                     ,
                     O
                     ye
                     my
                     Friends
                     :
                  
                   But
                   instead
                   thereof
                   let
                   us
                   be
                   saying
                   ,
                   
                     The
                     Lord
                     be
                     Merciful
                     unto
                     me
                     a
                     Sinner
                     !
                  
                   Do's
                   not
                   thy
                   Affliction
                   put
                   thee
                   upon
                   more
                   Prayer
                   than
                   thou
                   didst
                   use
                   before
                   ?
                   It
                   is
                   a
                   sad
                   sign
                   that
                   the
                   
                     Sower
                     Cup
                  
                   arrives
                   unto
                   thee
                   ,
                   spiced
                   with
                   the
                   dreadful
                   Vengeance
                   of
                   God
                   upon
                   thy
                   Soul.
                   An
                   Affliction
                   will
                   neither
                   come
                   in
                   Mercy
                   ,
                   nor
                   go
                   in
                   Mercy
                   ,
                   if
                   much
                   Prayer
                   do
                   not
                   accompany
                   it
                   .
                   In
                   Affliction
                   ,
                   
                     Pray
                     much
                  
                   .
                   As
                   soon
                   as
                   ever
                   any
                   Affliction
                   befalls
                   us
                   ,
                   the
                   
                     First
                     thing
                  
                   we
                   do
                   ,
                   should
                   be
                   to
                   fall
                   down
                   upon
                   our
                   knees
                   ,
                   to
                   cry
                   mightily
                   unto
                   the
                   Lord
                   that
                   his
                   Grace
                   may
                   be
                   Sufficient
                   for
                   us
                   .
                   And
                   still
                   ,
                   as
                   long
                   as
                   Gods
                   hand
                   is
                   Lying
                   in
                   Tryals
                   upon
                   us
                   ,
                   our
                   hand
                   should
                   be
                   lifted
                   in
                   Prayers
                   unto
                   God.
                   We
                   should
                   Pray
                   that
                   our
                   Affliction
                   may
                   be
                   Moderated
                   ,
                   that
                   our
                   Affliction
                   may
                   be
                   Sanctified
                   ,
                   that
                   our
                   Affliction
                   
                   may
                   be
                   Removed
                   .
                   The
                   Pious
                   Hannah
                   of
                   old
                   found
                   Prayer
                   to
                   be
                   an
                   Heart-ease
                   .
                   Let
                   this
                   be
                   your
                   good
                   Character
                   ,
                   your
                   good
                   Carriage
                   ,
                   
                     Lord
                     ,
                     in
                     Trouble
                     have
                     they
                     visited
                     thee
                     ,
                     and
                     poured
                     out
                     a
                     Prayer
                     when
                     thy
                     Chastening
                     was
                     upon
                     them
                     .
                  
                
              
               
                 
                   The
                   Third
                   Counsel
                   which
                   you
                   are
                   to
                   follow
                   ,
                   is
                   declared
                   in
                
                 
                   
                     Job
                     34.
                     31.
                     
                  
                   
                     Surely
                     ,
                     it
                     is
                     meet
                     to
                     be
                     said
                     unto
                     God
                     ,
                     I
                     have
                     born
                     Chastisement
                     ,
                     I
                     will
                     not
                     offend
                     any
                     more
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   Repentance
                   of
                   Sin
                   should
                   be
                   the
                   effect
                   of
                   Affliction
                   on
                   Men.
                   The
                   End
                   of
                   every
                   Affiction
                   in
                   Sum
                   ,
                   is
                   the
                   same
                   that
                   the
                   End
                   of
                   every
                   Mercy
                   is
                   ;
                   we
                   may
                   say
                   of
                   it
                   ,
                   as
                   in
                   
                     Rom.
                     2.
                     4.
                     
                     O
                     man
                     ,
                     it
                     leads
                     thee
                     to
                     Repentance
                     .
                  
                   God
                   spoke
                   by
                   his
                   
                     Ten
                     Iudgments
                  
                   unto
                   Egypt
                   ,
                   as
                   well
                   as
                   by
                   his
                   
                     Ten
                     Commandments
                  
                   unto
                   Israel
                   .
                   Every
                   Affliction
                   cries
                   this
                   in
                   our
                   Ears
                   ,
                   
                     O
                     Repent
                     ,
                     Reform
                     ,
                     Return
                     to
                     him
                     that
                     Smites
                     thee
                     .
                  
                   We
                   read
                   of
                   a
                   gracious
                   person
                   ,
                   who
                   upon
                   having
                   a
                   Child
                   taken
                   away
                   by
                   Death
                   ,
                   said
                   in
                   1
                   
                     King.
                     17.
                     18.
                     
                     My
                     sins
                     are
                     brought
                     unto
                     Remembrance
                     .
                  
                   This
                   is
                   that
                   which
                   perhaps
                   all
                   thy
                   Sickness
                   ,
                   all
                   thy
                   Reproach
                   ,
                   all
                   thy
                   Poverty
                   ,
                   and
                   all
                   thy
                   Bereavments
                   are
                   sent
                   upon
                   ;
                   God
                   would
                   have
                   thee
                   to
                   remember
                   some
                   Sin
                   with
                   Grief
                   and
                   Shame
                   ,
                   
                   and
                   
                     Wherein
                     thou
                     hast
                     done
                     Iniquity
                     ,
                     to
                     do
                     it
                     no
                     more
                     .
                  
                   It
                   was
                   a
                   black
                   brand
                   set
                   upon
                   a
                   bad
                   Man
                   ,
                   in
                   2
                   
                     Chron.
                     28.
                     22.
                     
                     In
                     the
                     time
                     of
                     his
                     Distress
                     ,
                     did
                     he
                     Trespass
                     yet
                     more
                     against
                     the
                     Lord.
                  
                   Shall
                   God
                   Prune
                   thee
                   and
                   Cut
                   thee
                   ,
                   and
                   no
                   
                     good
                     Fruit
                  
                   be
                   found
                   upon
                   thee
                   after
                   all
                   ?
                   Shall
                   God
                   Prick
                   thee
                   and
                   Lance
                   thee
                   ,
                   and
                   all
                   thy
                   
                     bad
                     Blood
                  
                   be
                   still
                   running
                   in
                   thy
                   Veins
                   ?
                   Then
                   indeed
                   ,
                   these
                   things
                   are
                   Against
                   thee
                   .
                   
                   Ieroboam's
                   withered
                   Hand
                   was
                   Against
                   him
                   ,
                   because
                   it
                   rectify'd
                   not
                   his
                   naughty
                   Heart
                   .
                   There
                   hardly
                   ever
                   was
                   a
                   more
                   lamentable
                   sight
                   in
                   this
                   World
                   ,
                   than
                   ,
                   
                     A
                     Thief
                     on
                     a
                     Cross
                     continuing
                     to
                     dishonour
                     the
                     Lord
                     Iesus
                     Christ.
                  
                   Art
                   thou
                   Afflicted
                   ?
                   Then
                   take
                   the
                   course
                   which
                   the
                   Church
                   propounded
                   in
                   
                     Lam.
                     3.
                     40.
                     
                     Let
                     us
                     search
                     and
                     try
                     our
                     ways
                     .
                  
                   O
                   now
                   ,
                   First
                   Petition
                   thy
                   God
                   ;
                   
                     Lord
                     ,
                     shew
                     me
                     wherefore
                     thou
                     contendest
                     with
                     me
                     !
                  
                   And
                   then
                   Examine
                   thy self
                   ,
                   
                     Wherein
                     have
                     I
                     transgressed
                     and
                     exceeded
                     ?
                  
                   Endeavour
                   to
                   find
                   out
                   what
                   Controversie
                   there
                   may
                   be
                   between
                   God
                   and
                   Thee
                   ;
                   let
                   thy
                   impartial
                   Conscience
                   ,
                   the
                   Preacher
                   in
                   thy
                   Bosom
                   ,
                   inform
                   thee
                   ,
                   Whether
                   thou
                   hast
                   not
                   Overvalued
                   ,
                   or
                   Vndervalued
                   the
                   things
                   which
                   thy
                   Affliction
                   is
                   in
                   the
                   privation
                   of
                   ;
                   Whether
                   thou
                   hast
                   not
                   injuriously
                   procured
                   unto
                   some
                   other
                   person
                   ,
                   an
                   Affliction
                   like
                   that
                   which
                   
                   thou
                   thy self
                   now
                   Smartest
                   under
                   ;
                   or
                   Whether
                   no
                   Circumstance
                   of
                   thy
                   Affliction
                   ,
                   as
                   the
                   Time
                   of
                   it
                   ,
                   the
                   Place
                   of
                   it
                   ,
                   do
                   loudly
                   proclaim
                   Gods
                   quarrel
                   in
                   it
                   .
                   enquire
                   thus
                   ,
                   and
                   immediately
                   comply
                   with
                   what
                   the
                   Lord
                   shall
                   Require
                   .
                   Let
                   thy
                   
                     Dead
                     Friends
                  
                   cause
                   thee
                   to
                   Repent
                   of
                   thy
                   
                     Dead
                     works
                  
                   ;
                   thou
                   Mournest
                   over
                   a
                   
                     lost
                     Child
                  
                   ,
                   or
                   a
                   
                     lost
                     Name
                  
                   ;
                   O
                   be
                   concerned
                   about
                   a
                   
                     lost
                     Soul
                  
                   that
                   is
                   loding
                   in
                   thee
                   .
                   Ask
                   thy
                   felf
                   ,
                   
                     What
                     have
                     my
                     past
                     Behaviours
                     been
                     ?
                  
                   And
                   ask
                   ,
                   
                     What
                     should
                     my
                     future
                     Deportment
                     be
                     ?
                     Bewail
                  
                   now
                   ,
                   and
                   Amend
                   all
                   thy
                   miscarriages
                   in
                   the
                   sight
                   of
                   God.
                   We
                   are
                   very
                   ready
                   to
                   fall
                   out
                   with
                   Creatures
                   when
                   any
                   thing
                   happens
                   amiss
                   unto
                   us
                   :
                   But
                   O
                   spend
                   all
                   thy
                   Passion
                   and
                   all
                   thy
                   Indignation
                   here
                   .
                   Thou
                   mayst
                   look
                   upon
                   thy
                   Sins
                   ,
                   and
                   Curse
                   them
                   as
                   the
                   Authors
                   of
                   all
                   thy
                   Sorrows
                   .
                   O
                   look
                   upon
                   Sin
                   and
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     Have
                     I
                     found
                     thee
                     ,
                     O
                     mine
                     Enemy
                  
                   ;
                   Man
                   ,
                   loath
                   now
                   ,
                   and
                   leave
                   every
                   Sin.
                   'T
                   was
                   that
                   Sin
                   that
                   kill'd
                   thy
                   Child
                   ;
                   'T
                   was
                   that
                   Sin
                   that
                   burnt
                   thy
                   House
                   ,
                   that
                   sunk
                   thy
                   Ship
                   ,
                   that
                   robb'd
                   thee
                   of
                   thy
                   Delights
                   :
                   Never
                   after
                   this
                   be
                   at
                   peace
                   with
                   that
                   mischievous
                   Monster
                   ,
                   Sin.
                   
                
              
               
                 
                 
                   The
                   Fourth
                   Counsel
                   ,
                   big
                   with
                   which
                   every
                   Affliction
                   saith
                   unto
                   us
                   ,
                   as
                   Eliud
                   unto
                   Eglon
                   ,
                   I
                   have
                   a
                   Message
                   to
                   thee
                   from
                   God
                   ;
                   we
                   have
                   specify'd
                   in
                
                 
                   
                     Job
                     .
                     13.
                     15.
                     
                  
                   
                     Tho'
                     he
                     slay
                     me
                     ,
                     yet
                     will
                     I
                     trust
                     in
                     him
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   An
                   Holy
                   Resolution
                   for
                   God
                   is
                   to
                   be
                   maintained
                   under
                   every
                   Afflicition
                   from
                   God.
                   Afflictions
                   will
                   not
                   be
                   Against
                   us
                   ,
                   if
                   we
                   Resolve
                   under
                   them
                   to
                   be
                   still
                   For
                   him
                   from
                   whom
                   they
                   come
                   .
                   To
                   lay
                   aside
                   no
                   Devotions
                   for
                   all
                   Afflictions
                   ,
                   to
                   serve
                   a
                   Smiting
                   God
                   as
                   well
                   as
                   a
                   Smiling
                   God
                   ,
                   to
                   seek
                   a
                   God
                   that
                   is
                   Frowning
                   on
                   us
                   ,
                   as
                   well
                   as
                   a
                   God
                   that
                   is
                   Owning
                   of
                   us
                   ,
                   this
                   will
                   argue
                   ,
                   
                     An
                     Israelite
                     indeed
                  
                   .
                   We
                   should
                   after
                   all
                   our
                   Afflictions
                   be
                   still
                   able
                   to
                   make
                   that
                   Appeal
                   unto
                   the
                   Lord
                   ,
                   in
                   the
                   
                     Psal.
                     44.
                     17
                     ,
                     18.
                     
                     All
                     this
                     is
                     come
                     upon
                     us
                     ,
                     yet
                     have
                     we
                     not
                     forgotten
                     thee
                     ,
                  
                   O
                   Lord.
                   Resolve
                   never
                   to
                   Renounce
                   the
                   Truths
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   Resolve
                   never
                   to
                   Desert
                   the
                   Ways
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   whatever
                   your
                   Afflictions
                   are
                   ;
                   still
                   ,
                   
                     With
                     full
                     purpose
                     of
                     Heart
                     cleave
                     unto
                     the
                     Lord.
                  
                   In
                   Resolutions
                   for
                   God
                   ,
                   O
                   be
                   like
                   an
                   
                     Iron
                     Pillar
                  
                   ,
                   and
                   a
                   
                     Brasen
                     Wall
                  
                   ,
                   that
                   cannot
                   be
                   prevailed
                   against
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   Resolve
                   to
                   be
                   Holy
                   tho'
                   the
                   Wrath
                   of
                   Man
                   would
                   molest
                   you
                   for
                   it
                   .
                   Suppose
                   a
                   wicked
                   World
                   should
                   Abuse
                   you
                   and
                   Oppress
                   you
                   ,
                   yet
                   say
                   with
                   
                     Ioshua
                     ,
                     I
                     and
                     my
                     House
                     will
                     serve
                     the
                     Lord.
                  
                   Continue
                   Sacrificing
                   to
                   ,
                   and
                   Pleasing
                   of
                   your
                   God
                   tho'
                   Cains
                   bloody
                   Club
                   should
                   be
                   Cudgelling
                   of
                   you
                   .
                
                 
                   Resolve
                   to
                   be
                   Holy
                   ,
                   tho'
                   the
                   Hand
                   of
                   God
                   should
                   distress
                   you
                   in
                   it
                   .
                   When
                   you
                   feel
                   the
                   Discouragements
                   of
                   the
                   
                     Narrow
                     way
                  
                   ,
                   still
                   say
                   with
                   
                     Paul
                     ,
                     None
                     of
                     these
                     things
                     move
                     me
                     .
                  
                   Suppose
                   God
                   should
                   inflict
                   the
                   stroke
                   of
                   his
                   Displeasure
                   on
                   your
                   
                     outward
                     Man
                  
                   ,
                   still
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     Tho'
                     my
                  
                   Life
                   
                     should
                     be
                     continually
                     worn
                     away
                     with
                     pining
                     Sickness
                     ,
                     yet
                     to
                     me
                     to
                  
                   Live
                   
                     it
                     shall
                     be
                     Christ.
                  
                   Still
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     Tho'
                     my
                  
                   Name
                   
                     should
                     in
                     the
                     Reproach
                     of
                     the
                     Drunkard
                     have
                     Cart-loads
                     of
                     Mud
                     thrown
                     upon
                     it
                     ,
                     yet
                     will
                     I
                     labour
                     all
                     I
                     can
                     to
                     honour
                     the
                  
                   Name
                   
                     of
                     God.
                  
                   Still
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     Tho'
                     I
                     am
                     Reduced
                     to
                     be
                     among
                     the
                  
                   Poor
                   
                     in
                     this
                     World
                     ,
                     yet
                     will
                     I
                     study
                     to
                     be
                  
                   Rich
                   
                     in
                     Good
                     Works
                  
                   .
                   And
                   still
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     Tho'
                     I
                     cannot
                     have
                     my
                  
                   Children
                   
                     like
                     Olive-plants
                     about
                     my
                     Table
                     ,
                     yet
                     will
                     endeavour
                     to
                     be
                     my self
                     a
                     Dutiful
                  
                   Child
                   
                     of
                     God
                     ,
                     and
                     as
                     a
                     Fruitful
                     Olive-tree
                     in
                     the
                     Courts
                     of
                     the
                     Lord.
                  
                   Once
                   more
                   ;
                   Suppose
                   God
                   should
                   withdraw
                   the
                   light
                   of
                   his
                   Countenance
                   from
                   your
                   
                     inward
                     Man
                  
                   ;
                   still
                   
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     The
                     Lord
                     shall
                     be
                  
                   my
                   God
                   ,
                   my
                   God
                   ,
                   
                     even
                     when
                     he
                  
                   forsaketh
                   me
                   .
                   Still
                   say
                   ,
                   
                     I
                     will
                  
                   fear
                   
                     the
                     Lord
                     and
                     obey
                     his
                     Voice
                     ,
                     tho
                     I
                     walk
                     in
                  
                   Darkness
                   ,
                   
                     and
                     shall
                     see
                     no
                     Light.
                  
                   Happy
                   is
                   the
                   Afflicted
                   Man
                   ,
                   that
                   is
                   a
                   thus
                   Resolved
                   Man.
                   The
                   followers
                   of
                   these
                   Counsels
                   may
                   boldly
                   and
                   safely
                   lay
                   claim
                   to
                   all
                   the
                   Comforts
                   which
                   have
                   this
                   day
                   been
                   set
                   before
                   the
                   
                     Heirs
                     of
                     Consolation
                  
                   .
                
              
            
          
           
             
               The
               special
               Case
               .
            
             
               But
               there
               is
               a
               more
               
                 special
                 Exhortation
              
               to
               be
               pressed
               ,
               which
               may
               give
               a
               Period
               unto
               this
               Discourse
               .
            
             
               Let
               not
               the
               loss
               of
               Children
               particularly
               ,
               as
               a
               thing
               Against
               us
               ,
               cause
               in
               us
               any
               irregular
               Discomposures
               .
            
             
               The
               
                 loss
                 of
                 Children
              
               ,
               did
               I
               say
               ?
               Nay
               ,
               let
               me
               recal
               so
               harsh
               a
               Word
               ;
               the
               Catachresis
               is
               a
               little
               too
               hard
               for
               the
               Language
               of
               a
               Christian.
               The
               Children
               which
               we
               count
               Lost
               ,
               are
               not
               so
               .
               The
               Death
               of
               our
               Children
               is
               not
               the
               Loss
               of
               our
               Children
               ;
               when
               all
               the
               Losses
               of
               Iob
               were
               made
               up
               with
               Doublings
               ,
               yet
               the
               Number
               of
               his
               Children
               need
               not
               be
               doubled
               ,
               in
               the
               Restoration
               .
               
               Our
               Children
               are
               not
               Lost
               ,
               but
               
                 given
                 back
              
               ,
               they
               are
               not
               Lost
               ,
               but
               
                 sent
                 before
              
               .
               In
               such
               a
               Dialect
               have
               the
               Sager
               Heathen
               sometimes
               talked
               of
               this
               Affliction
               ;
               and
               shall
               the
               professors
               of
               Christianity
               ,
               with
               bitter
               Groans
               enter
               this
               among
               their
               
                 Losses
                 ,
                 My
                 Children
                 are
                 Dead
                 !
              
               O
               tell
               it
               not
               at
               Athens
               ,
               publish
               it
               not
               at
               Rome
               ;
               lest
               the
               Heathen
               Philosophers
               hiss
               at
               our
               weakness
               ,
               at
               our
               Folly
               !
            
             
               Well
               ,
               this
               is
               the
               Calamity
               which
               many
               of
               you
               at
               some
               time
               or
               other
               have
               experience
               of
               ;
               
                 The
                 Death
                 of
                 Children
              
               ,
               this
               is
               a
               thing
               which
               the
               Children
               of
               Iacob
               seldome
               escape
               a
               resemblance
               of
               their
               Father
               in
               .
               Many
               carry
               themselves
               under
               the
               tryal
               ,
               as
               if
               ,
               
                 A
                 Death
                 of
                 Vertue
              
               ,
               yea
               as
               if
               ,
               
                 A
                 Death
                 of
                 Reason
              
               ,
               had
               therewithal
               befallen
               them
               ;
               but
               recollect
               your selves
               ,
               O
               dejected
               Christians
               ,
               and
               be
               not
               like
               them
               that
               
                 Mourn
                 without
                 Hope
              
               this
               day
               .
               Let
               Bereaved
               Parents
               be
               yet
               Believing
               Parents
               ;
               the
               Voice
               of
               the
               
                 great
                 God
                 that
                 formed
                 all
                 things
              
               is
               unto
               them
               that
               in
               
                 Ier.
                 31.
                 16.
                 
                 Refrain
                 thy
                 Voice
                 from
                 Weeping
                 ,
                 and
                 thine
                 Eyes
                 from
                 Tears
                 ,
                 for
                 thy
                 Work
                 shall
                 be
                 Rewarded
                 ,
                 saith
                 the
                 Lord.
                 
              
            
             
               Let
               the
               Thoughts
               which
               have
               been
               this
               day
               tendered
               unto
               our
               Improvement
               ,
               gloriously
               
               compose
               and
               settle
               our
               Royled
               minds
               under
               this
               Affliction
               .
               Let
               us
               not
               say
               ,
               
                 This
                 thing
                 is
                 Against
                 us
              
               ;
               but
               let
               us
               say
               ,
               
                 The
                 Lord
                 that
                 hath
                 given
                 hath
                 also
                 taken
                 away
                 ,
                 blessed
                 be
                 the
                 name
                 of
                 the
                 Lord.
              
               It
               is
               indeed
               very
               true
               ,
               That
               this
               Affliction
               is
               none
               of
               the
               most
               easie
               to
               be
               born
               ;
               the
               Heart
               of
               a
               Parent
               will
               have
               peculiar
               Passions
               working
               in
               it
               ,
               and
               racking
               of
               it
               ,
               at
               such
               a
               time
               as
               this
               .
               Thô
               there
               be
               
                 greater
                 Sorrows
              
               than
               those
               with
               which
               we
               follow
               a
               Child
               unto
               the
               Grave
               ;
               I
               bless
               God
               ,
               it
               is
               a
               more
               bitter
               thing
               to
               say
               ,
               
                 My
                 Sin
                 is
                 mighty
              
               ,
               or
               to
               say
               ,
               
                 My
                 Soul
                 is
                 guilty
              
               ,
               than
               it
               is
               to
               say
               ,
               
                 My
                 Child
                 is
                 Dead
              
               ;
               that
               moan
               ,
               
                 I
                 have
                 pierced
                 my
                 Saviour
              
               ,
               is
               more
               Heart-wounding
               than
               to
               
                 Mourn
                 as
                 one
                 mourneth
                 for
                 a
                 First-born
                 .
              
               Yet
               few
               outward
               Earthly
               Anguishes
               are
               equal
               unto
               these
               .
               The
               
                 Dying
                 of
                 a
                 Child
              
               is
               like
               the
               
                 Tearing
                 off
                 a
                 Limb
              
               ,
               unto
               us
               .
               But
               ,
               O
               remember
               ,
               That
               if
               ever
               we
               had
               any
               Grace
               in
               our
               Souls
               ,
               we
               have
               e're
               this
               willingly
               pluck'd
               out
               a
               
                 Right
                 Eye
              
               ,
               and
               cut
               off
               a
               
                 Right
                 Hand
              
               ,
               for
               the
               sake
               of
               God.
               Why
               should
               we
               not
               then
               at
               the
               Call
               of
               God
               readily
               part
               with
               a
               Limb
               ,
               and
               leave
               Him
               room
               to
               say
               ,
               
                 Now
                 I
                 know
                 that
                 thou
                 fearest
                 me
                 ,
                 because
                 thou
                 hast
                 not
                 withheld
                 thy
                 Child
                 when
                 I
                 called
                 for
                 it
                 !
              
               It
               was
               
               from
               God
               that
               we
               did
               Receive
               those
               
                 dear
                 Pledges
              
               our
               Children
               ,
               and
               it
               is
               to
               God
               that
               we
               Return
               them
               .
               We
               cannot
               quarrel
               with
               our
               God
               ,
               if
               about
               those
               Loans
               he
               say
               unto
               us
               ,
               
                 Give
                 them
                 up
                 ,
                 you
                 have
                 had
                 them
                 long
                 enough
                 !
              
               We
               knew
               
                 what
                 they
                 were
              
               ,
               when
               first
               we
               took
               them
               into
               our
               Arms
               :
               We
               knew
               that
               they
               were
               Potsherds
               ,
               that
               they
               were
               Mortals
               ,
               that
               the
               Worms
               which
               usually
               do
               kill
               them
               ,
               or
               at
               least
               will
               eat
               them
               ,
               are
               but
               their
               Names-sakes
               ,
               and
               that
               a
               
                 Dead
                 Child
              
               is
               a
               sight
               no
               more
               surprizing
               than
               a
               
                 broken
                 Pitcher
              
               ,
               or
               a
               
                 blasted
                 Flower
              
               .
            
             
               But
               we
               did
               not
               ,
               we
               do
               not
               know
               ,
               
                 What
                 they
                 might
                 be
              
               ,
               in
               case
               they
               were
               continued
               among
               the
               Living
               on
               the
               Earth
               .
               We
               cannot
               tell
               whether
               our
               Sons
               would
               prove
               as
               
                 Plants
                 grown
                 up
                 in
                 their
                 Youth
                 ,
              
               and
               our
               Daughters
               as
               
                 Corner-stones
                 polished
                 after
                 the
                 similitude
                 of
                 a
                 Palace
              
               ;
               or
               ,
               whether
               our
               Sons
               might
               not
               ,
               like
               
               Isaac's
               Son
               ,
               do
               those
               things
               that
               would
               be
               a
               
                 grief
                 of
                 Mind
              
               unto
               us
               ,
               and
               our
               Daughters
               like
               
               Iephta's
               Daughter
               ,
               
                 be
                 of
                 them
                 that
                 Trouble
                 us
                 .
              
               Christians
               ,
               let
               us
               be
               content
               that
               our
               wise
               and
               good
               God
               should
               Carve
               our
               Portion
               for
               us
               ;
               he
               will
               appoint
               us
               none
               but
               a
               
                 goodly
                 Heritage
              
               .
               Our
               Temptation
               is
               no
               more
               than
               
               what
               is
               
                 common
                 to
                 Men
              
               ,
               yea
               ,
               and
               to
               
                 good
                 Men.
              
               The
               biggest
               part
               of
               those
               
                 Humane
                 Spirits
              
               that
               are
               now
               beholding
               the
               Face
               of
               God
               in
               Glory
               ,
               are
               such
               as
               dwelt
               in
               the
               Children
               of
               Pious
               people
               ,
               departed
               in
               their
               Infancy
               .
               And
               what
               have
               we
               to
               say
               ,
               why
               we
               should
               not
               undergo
               it
               as
               well
               as
               they
               !
               Was
               the
               Infant
               whose
               Decease
               we
               do
               deplore
               ,
               one
               that
               was
               very
               Pretty
               ,
               one
               that
               had
               pretty
               Features
               ,
               pretty
               Speeches
               ,
               pretty
               Actions
               ?
               Well
               ,
               at
               the
               
                 Resurrection
                 of
                 the
                 Iust
              
               we
               shall
               see
               the
               dear
               Lambs
               again
               ;
               the
               Lord
               Jesus
               will
               deal
               with
               our
               
                 dead
                 Children
              
               as
               the
               Prophets
               ▪
               Elijah
               and
               Elisha
               did
               by
               those
               whom
               they
               Raised
               of
               Old
               ;
               he
               will
               bring
               them
               to
               us
               ,
               recovered
               from
               the
               pale
               Jaws
               of
               Death
               ;
               and
               how
               Amiable
               ,
               how
               Beautiful
               ,
               how
               Comely
               they
               will
               then
               be
               ,
               no
               Tongue
               is
               able
               to
               express
               ,
               or
               Heart
               conceive
               .
               Tho'
               their
               
                 Beauty
                 do
                 Consume
                 in
                 the
                 Grave
                 ,
              
               yet
               it
               shall
               be
               Restored
               ,
               it
               shall
               be
               Advanced
               ,
               when
               they
               shall
               put
               off
               their
               Bed-cloths
               in
               the
               Morning
               of
               the
               day
               of
               God.
               Again
               ,
               Was
               the
               Infant
               now
               lamented
               ,
               very
               suddenly
               snatch'd
               away
               ?
               and
               perhaps
               Awfully
               too
               !
               not
               meerly
               by
               a
               Convulsion
               ,
               but
               by
               Scalding
               ,
               by
               Burning
               ,
               by
               Drowning
               ,
               by
               Shooting
               ,
               by
               Stabbing
               ,
               or
               by
               some
               unusual
               Harm
               ?
               Truly
               ,
               it
               is
               often
               
               so
               ,
               that
               the
               quicker
               the
               Death
               ,
               the
               better
               .
               It
               is
               more
               desirable
               for
               our
               Children
               to
               feel
               but
               a
               few
               Minutes
               of
               Pain
               ,
               than
               it
               is
               for
               them
               to
               lye
               Groaning
               in
               those
               exquisite
               Agonies
               which
               would
               cause
               us
               even
               our selves
               to
               wish
               that
               the
               Lord
               would
               take
               them
               out
               of
               their
               Misery
               .
               As
               for
               any
               more
               grievous
               and
               signal
               circumstance
               attending
               of
               our
               
                 Dying
                 Children
              
               ,
               our
               best
               course
               will
               be
               to
               have
               it
               said
               of
               us
               ,
               
                 They
                 ceased
                 ,
                 saying
                 ,
                 The
                 Will
                 of
                 the
                 Lord
                 be
                 done
                 !
              
               As
               the
               Love
               or
               Wrath
               of
               God
               is
               not
               certainly
               declared
               in
               ,
               so
               ,
               our
               Grief
               before
               him
               should
               not
               be
               too
               much
               augmented
               by
               such
               things
               as
               these
               .
               And
               it
               is
               a
               favour
               ,
               if
               so
               much
               as
               one
               of
               our
               Children
               be
               left
               alive
               unto
               us
               .
               Let
               not
               the
               sense
               of
               
                 one
                 Trouble
              
               swallow
               up
               the
               sense
               of
               a
               
                 Thousand
                 Mercies
              
               .
               The
               Mother
               from
               whom
               a
               
                 violent
                 Death
              
               has
               taken
               one
               of
               her
               two
               Children
               ,
               may
               immediately
               Embrace
               the
               other
               and
               say
               ,
               
                 Blessed
                 be
                 God
                 that
                 has
                 left
                 me
                 this
                 !
              
               But
               once
               more
               ,
               Is
               the
               gone
               Infant
               an
               
                 only
                 Child
              
               ?
               Are
               we
               now
               ready
               to
               sigh
               ,
               
                 All
                 is
                 gone
              
               !
               Nay
               ,
               Thou
               hast
               but
               a
               poor
               All
               ,
               if
               this
               were
               All.
               I
               hope
               ,
               thy
               
                 only
                 Child
              
               is
               not
               thy
               
                 only
                 Ioy.
              
               If
               thou
               hast
               ever
               passed
               through
               the
               New
               Birth
               ,
               the
               sense
               of
               thy
               Soul
               is
               ,
               
                 One
                 Iesus
                 
                 is
                 worth
                 Ten
                 Children
                 ;
                 yea
                 ,
                 One
                 Christ
                 is
                 worth
                 Ten
                 Worlds
                 .
              
               What
               tho'
               all
               thy
               Candles
               are
               put
               out
               !
               The
               Sun
               ,
               the
               
                 Sun
                 of
                 Righteousness
              
               is
               arising
               to
               thy
               Soul
               for
               ever
               .
               An
               undone
               Man
               art
               thou
               indeed
               !
               that
               hast
               thy
               little
               Glass
               of
               Water
               spil'd
               or
               spoil'd
               ,
               while
               thou
               hast
               a
               Fountain
               ,
               a
               Living
               Fountain
               running
               by
               thy
               Door
               !
               The
               blessed
               God
               calls
               thee
               ,
               
                 My
                 Child
              
               ;
               and
               that
               is
               infinitely
               better
               than
               ,
               
                 A
                 Name
                 of
                 Sons
                 and
                 of
                 Daughters
                 .
              
            
             
               Finally
               ,
               Have
               we
               any
               Doubts
               about
               the
               
                 Eternal
                 Salvation
              
               of
               the
               Children
               which
               we
               
                 have
                 Bur●ed
                 out
                 of
                 our
                 sight
                 ?
              
               Indeed
               ,
               as
               to
               
                 grown
                 Children
              
               ,
               there
               is
               often
               too
               sad
               cause
               of
               suspicion
               or
               solicitude
               ;
               and
               yet
               here
               ,
               the
               
                 Soveraign
                 disposals
              
               of
               God
               must
               be
               submitted
               unto
               .
               Besides
               ,
               Thô
               it
               may
               be
               ,
               we
               could
               not
               see
               such
               plain
               Marks
               and
               Signs
               of
               Grace
               in
               our
               
                 Adult
                 Children
              
               as
               we
               could
               have
               wished
               for
               ,
               nevertheless
               they
               might
               have
               
                 the
                 Root
                 of
                 the
                 matter
              
               in
               them
               .
               There
               are
               many
               Serious
               ,
               Gracious
               ,
               Well-inclined
               young
               People
               ,
               who
               conceal
               from
               every
               body
               ,
               the
               Evidences
               of
               their
               Repentance
               ,
               the
               Instances
               of
               their
               Devotion
               .
               You
               cannot
               tell
               what
               the
               Lord
               did
               for
               the
               Souls
               of
               your
               poor
               Children
               before
               he
               took
               
               them
               out
               of
               the
               World.
               Perhaps
               they
               sought
               ,
               they
               found
               Mercy
               ,
               
                 between
                 the
                 Stirrup
                 and
                 the
                 Ground
                 .
              
               The
               Child
               of
               a
               Godly
               Parent
               ,
               is
               not
               to
               be
               despaired
               of
               ,
               thô
               
                 turned
                 off
                 the
                 Gallows
              
               .
            
             
               But
               as
               to
               
                 young
                 Children
              
               ,
               the
               Fear
               of
               God
               will
               take
               away
               all
               matter
               of
               Scruple
               in
               the
               Owners
               of
               them
               .
               Parents
               ,
               Can
               you
               not
               sincerely
               say
               ,
               That
               you
               have
               given
               ,
               as
               your selves
               ,
               so
               
                 your
                 Children
              
               ,
               unto
               God
               in
               a
               
                 Covenant
                 never
                 to
                 be
                 forgotten
              
               ?
               Can
               you
               not
               sincerely
               say
               ,
               That
               you
               have
               chosen
               God
               in
               Christ
               for
               the
               
                 Best
                 Portion
              
               ,
               as
               of
               your selves
               ,
               so
               of
               your
               Children
               ?
               Answer
               to
               this
               :
               If
               your
               Children
               had
               been
               spar'd
               unto
               you
               ,
               would
               it
               not
               have
               been
               your
               care
               to
               have
               brought
               them
               up
               in
               the
               
                 Nurture
                 and
                 Admonition
                 of
                 the
                 Lord
                 ?
              
               Would
               you
               not
               have
               used
               all
               Prayers
               and
               Pains
               to
               have
               engaged
               them
               unto
               the
               Service
               of
               the
               
                 Living
                 God
              
               ,
               and
               unto
               a
               just
               prejudice
               against
               all
               the
               vile
               Idols
               and
               vain
               courses
               of
               the
               World
               ?
               Then
               ,
               be
               of
               good
               cheer
               :
               Your
               Children
               are
               in
               a
               better
               place
               ,
               a
               better
               state
               ,
               than
               you
               your selves
               are
               yet
               arriv'd
               unto
               .
               The
               Faithful
               God
               had
               promised
               ,
               
                 I
                 will
                 be
                 their
                 God
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 thy
                 God.
              
               O
               say
               ,
               
                 This
                 is
                 all
                 my
                 Desire
                 ,
                 
                 thô
                 the
                 Lord
                 suffer
                 not
                 my
                 House
                 to
                 grow
                 .
              
               Those
               dear
               Children
               are
               gone
               from
               your
               kind
               Arms
               into
               the
               sweet
               Bosom
               of
               Jesus
               ,
               and
               this
               is
               ,
               
                 by
                 far
                 the
                 best
                 of
                 all
                 .
                 To
                 have
                 Children
                 this
                 Day
                 in
                 Heaven
                 !
              
               Truly
               this
               is
               an
               Honour
               which
               neither
               you
               nor
               I
               are
               worthy
               of
               .
               But
               so
               it
               is
               ;
               The
               King
               of
               Kings
               hath
               sent
               for
               our
               Children
               to
               conferr
               a
               Kingdom
               on
               them
               .
               They
               are
               gone
               from
               a
               dark
               Vale
               of
               Sin
               and
               Shame
               ;
               they
               are
               gone
               into
               the
               Land
               of
               Light
               and
               Life
               and
               Love
               ;
               there
               they
               are
               with
               the
               
                 spirits
                 of
                 Iust
                 men
                 made
                 perfect
              
               ;
               there
               they
               
                 serve
                 the
                 Lord
                 Day
                 and
                 Night
                 in
                 His
                 Temple
                 ,
              
               having
               
                 all
                 Tears
                 wiped
                 from
                 their
                 Eyes
              
               ;
               and
               from
               thence
               methinks
               ,
               I
               hear
               them
               crying
               aloud
               unto
               us
               ,
               
                 As
                 well
                 as
                 you
                 love
                 us
                 ,
                 we
                 would
                 not
                 be
                 with
                 you
                 again
                 ;
                 weep
                 not
                 for
                 us
                 ,
                 but
                 for
                 your selves
                 ;
                 and
                 count
                 not
                 your selves
                 at
                 Home
                 till
                 you
                 come
                 to
                 be
                 ,
                 as
                 We
                 ,
                 for
                 ever
                 with
                 the
                 Lord.
                 
              
            
             
               I
               have
               done
               .
               The
               fit
               Epitaph
               of
               a
               Dead
               Infant
               ,
               That
               ,
               That
               alone
               is
               enough
               to
               be
               the
               Solace
               of
               a
               Sad
               Parent
               ,
               
                 Of
                 such
                 is
                 the
                 Kingdom
                 of
                 Heaven
                 .
              
            
             
               FINIS
               .
            
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           Extract
           of
           a
           Letter
           .
        
         
           
             Westfield
             ,
             
               14
               th
               .
               6
               M.
               1686.
               
            
          
        
         
           
             I
             Am
             sorry
             to
             hear
             that
             God
             hath
             laid
             you
             under
             that
             Exercise
             you
             spake
             of
             in
             your
             first
             Letter
             ,
             in
             the
             Death
             of
             Children
             .
             But
             if
             Heathenish
             Men
             could
             take
             their
             little
             Babes
             and
             burn
             them
             in
             the
             red
             Fire
             ,
             in
             Love
             and
             Honour
             to
             their
             Idol-God
             ,
             the
             Devil
             ;
             how
             should
             we
             who
             have
             Hope
             in
             God
             ,
             blush
             at
             the
             least
             Heart-risings
             against
             such
             Determinations
             as
             are
             made
             by
             his
             all-disposing
             Providence
             ,
             whereby
             he
             picks
             and
             chooses
             what
             Flowers
             please
             him
             best
             .
             We
             have
             nothing
             too
             sweet
             for
             Him.
             
          
           
             I
             sometimes
             have
             been
             refresh'd
             in
             like
             Cases
             by
             such
             Thoughts
             as
             these
             :
             Viz.
             
          
        
         
           
             I
             pausing
             on
             't
             ,
             this
             sweet
             refresh'd
             my
             thought
             ,
          
           
             Christ
             would
             in
             Glory
             have
             a
             Flower
             sweet
             ,
             prime
             ,
          
           
             And
             having
             Choice
             ,
             chose
             this
             my
             branch
             forth
             brought
             :
          
           
             Lord
             tak
             't
             :
             I
             thank
             Thee
             ,
             Thou
             tak'st
             ought
             of
             mine
             .
          
           
           
             It
             is
             my
             Pledge
             in
             Glory
             :
             Part
             of
             me
          
           
             Is
             glorifi'd
             in
             it
             ,
             now
             ,
             Lord
             ,
             with
             Thee
             .
          
        
         
           
             Grief
             or'e
             would
             flow
             ,
             and
             Nature
             fault
             would
             find
          
           
             Were
             not
             thy
             Will
             my
             Spell
             ,
             Charm
             ,
             Ioy
             and
             Gem
             ;
          
           
             That
             as
             I
             said
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             Take
             Lord
             ,
             they
             're
             thine
             :
          
           
             I
             piece-meal
             pass
             to
             Glory
             doe
             in
             them
             .
          
        
         
           I
           joy
           ,
           may
           I
           sweet
           flowers
           for
           Glory
           breed
           ;
           Whether
           Thou
           gett'st
           them
           fresh
           ,
           or
           lett'st
           them
           seed
           .
        
         
           
             E.
             T.