A discourse of the great disingenuity & unreasonableness of repining at afflicting providences and of the influence which they ought to have upon us, on Job 2, 10, publish'd upon occasion of the death of our gracious sovereign Queen Mary of most blessed memory : with a preface containing some observations, touching her excellent endowments, and exemplary life.
         Fowler, Edward, 1632-1714.
      
       
         
           1695
        
      
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             A discourse of the great disingenuity & unreasonableness of repining at afflicting providences and of the influence which they ought to have upon us, on Job 2, 10, publish'd upon occasion of the death of our gracious sovereign Queen Mary of most blessed memory : with a preface containing some observations, touching her excellent endowments, and exemplary life.
             Fowler, Edward, 1632-1714.
          
           45, [1], 104 p.
           
             Printed for Brabazon Aylmer ...,
             London :
             1695.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Bodleian Library.
             Attributed to Edward Fowler. cf. BM.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Mary -- II, -- Queen of England, 1662-1694.
           Great Britain -- History -- 1689-1714.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           DISCOURSE
           Of
           the
           Great
           Disingenuity
           &
           Unreasonableness
           Of
           Repining
           at
           Afflicting
           Providences
           :
           AND
           Of
           the
           Influence
           which
           they
           ought
           to
           have
           upon
           us
           ,
           on
           Iob
           2.
           10.
           
           Publish'd
           upon
           Occasion
           of
           the
           DEATH
           OF
           Our
           Gracious
           Sovereign
           ,
           
             Queen
             Mary
          
           Of
           Most
           Blessed
           Memory
           .
           With
           a
           PREFACE
           containing
           some
           Observations
           ,
           touching
           Her
           
             Excellent
             Endowments
          
           ,
           and
           
             Exemplary
             Life
          
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Brabazon
             Aylmer
          
           at
           the
           Three
           Pidgeons
           in
           Cornhil
           ,
           1695.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           Relating
           to
           the
           QUEEN
           .
        
         
           
             Reader
          
        
         
           THis
           Plain
           Discourse
           being
           design'd
           at
           first
           ,
           to
           go
           no
           farther
           than
           the
           Pulpit
           ,
           I
           was
           by
           the
           late
           most
           Afflicting
           Providence
           induced
           (
           as
           the
           Title
           Page
           tells
           you
           )
           to
           send
           it
           to
           the
           Press
           :
           Considering
           that
           a
           Discourse
           of
           this
           Nature
           (
           tho'
           it
           can
           be
           at
           no
           time
           Unseasonable
           )
           can
           never
           be
           
             mo●e
             seasonably
          
           Published
           than
           at
           this
           
           Iuncture
           ;
           when
           there
           is
           as
           General
           a
           Lamentation
           for
           the
           Death
           of
           our
           most
           Gracious
           Queen
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           ever
           known
           for
           any
           Publick
           Calamity
           .
           And
           my
           design
           herein
           being
           to
           promote
           ,
           what
           in
           me
           lyes
           ,
           a
           due
           Acknowledgment
           of
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           in
           all
           Afflictions
           ,
           and
           to
           instruct
           those
           who
           need
           such
           Helps
           ,
           how
           they
           are
           obliged
           to
           behave
           themselves
           under
           them
           ,
           and
           how
           they
           ought
           to
           improve
           them
           ;
           and
           to
           lay
           before
           them
           the
           most
           Perswasive
           Motives
           to
           such
           a
           Behaviour
           and
           Improvement
           ;
           I
           humbly
           hope
           it
           may
           be
           in
           some
           measure
           serviceable
           to
           my
           Country-men
           in
           affecting
           them
           with
           such
           a
           Sense
           of
           this
           Heavy
           Storke
           ,
           as
           may
           have
           that
           happy
           Influence
           upon
           them
           ,
           which
           I
           have
           here
           shewed
           ,
           God
           ,
           in
           His
           infinite
           Goodness
           ,
           doth
           principally
           aym
           at
           ,
           in
           all
           the
           Evils
           that
           befall
           us
           .
        
         
           And
           because
           the
           quicker
           sense
           we
           
           have
           of
           
             this
             Loss
          
           ,
           there
           may
           be
           the
           more
           hope
           of
           our
           Compliance
           with
           Gods
           Design
           therein
           ;
           and
           it
           being
           necessary
           to
           the
           retaining
           and
           more
           quickning
           our
           sense
           thereof
           ,
           to
           keep
           fresh
           in
           our
           Minds
           the
           Greatness
           of
           it
           ,
           I
           can
           not
           but
           take
           this
           Occasion
           to
           Represent
           ,
           with
           an
           Equal
           mixture
           of
           Admiration
           and
           Grief
           ,
           the
           
             Excellency
             of
             the
             Person
          
           ,
           and
           therefore
           the
           
             Greatness
             of
             the
             Blessing
          
           ,
           which
           we
           have
           lost
           .
        
         
           But
           since
           it
           would
           be
           too
           great
           a
           Presumption
           (
           in
           me
           Especially
           )
           to
           Pretend
           to
           give
           so
           full
           a
           Description
           of
           Her
           Majesties
           Virtues
           ,
           and
           Her
           Natural
           and
           Acquired
           Accomplishments
           ,
           as
           may
           deserve
           the
           Name
           of
           Her
           Character
           ,
           I
           intend
           not
           mu●h
           more
           ,
           than
           to
           instance
           in
           those
           which
           lay
           most
           open
           to
           Observation
           :
           But
           those
           are
           enough
           to
           speak
           Her
           ,
           
             The
             Glory
             of
             Her
             Sex.
          
           
        
         
         
           We
           had
           very
           Admirable
           Accounts
           of
           Her
           ,
           from
           Her
           Court
           at
           the
           Hague
           ,
           during
           Her
           Abode
           there
           ,
           from
           most
           Unquestionable
           Testimonies
           ,
           which
           made
           us
           Envy
           our
           Neighbours
           Happiness
           in
           Such
           a
           Princess
           ;
           who
           Knew
           their
           Happiness
           ,
           (
           as
           't
           was
           impossible
           they
           should
           not
           )
           and
           had
           an
           Extraordinary
           Value
           and
           Veneration
           for
           Her.
           And
           since
           Her
           Return
           to
           Her
           Native
           Country
           ,
           and
           Her
           Advancement
           to
           the
           Throne
           here
           ,
           we
           never
           knew
           a
           more
           Eminent
           Exception
           than
           She
           was
           to
           that
           Common
           Observation
           
             Minnit
             Praesentia
             Famam
             .
             The
             Fame
             that
             Persons
             had
             when
             Absent
             ,
             suffers
             by
             their
             Presence
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Queen
           had
           ,
           to
           begin
           with
           Her
           intellectual
           Endowments
           ,
           an
           exceeding
           quick
           Apprehension
           ,
           and
           as
           Clear
           and
           discerning
           a
           Judgment
           .
           The
           late
           Arch
           Bishop
           of
           Canterbury
           
           hath
           more
           than
           once
           Expressed
           to
           me
           great
           Admiration
           ,
           at
           the
           Proofs
           He
           knew
           Her
           give
           of
           these
           Accomplishments
           in
           the
           weighty
           Affaires
           of
           State
           ,
           in
           the
           Kings
           Absences
           ,
           when
           the
           Executive
           part
           of
           the
           Government
           was
           in
           Her
           Hands
           .
           And
           ,
           by
           the
           way
           ,
           That
           Great
           and
           Excellent
           Man
           ,
           whose
           Death
           is
           also
           much
           Bewailed
           ,
           could
           not
           have
           Chosen
           a
           Time
           for
           His
           leaving
           the
           World
           ,
           more
           happy
           for
           Himself
           ,
           than
           that
           which
           Providence
           Chose
           for
           Him
           ;
           since
           He
           escaped
           a
           very
           
             Terrible
             Shock
          
           by
           being
           
             taken
             away
          
           from
           the
           inexpressible
           Loss
           we
           are
           now
           Lamenting
           ,
           which
           was
           then
           at
           the
           door
           .
        
         
           The
           Queen
           hath
           left
           also
           a
           Great
           Name
           behind
           Her
           ,
           for
           Her
           Wisdom
           and
           Prudence
           in
           the
           Management
           of
           whatsoever
           Business
           She
           was
           pleased
           to
           be
           concerned
           in
           .
           And
           in
           difficult
           Cases
           no
           Person
           certainly
           ,
           
           might
           more
           safely
           than
           She
           be
           trusted
           ,
           with
           that
           Advice
           of
           the
           
             Son
             of
             Sirach
             ,
             Let
             the
             Counsel
             of
             thine
             own
             Heart
             stand
             .
          
           Several
           great
           Passages
           which
           I
           have
           had
           from
           the
           best
           hands
           do
           make
           me
           say
           this
           .
        
         
           And
           Her
           Person
           was
           not
           more
           Amiable
           than
           was
           Her
           Temper
           .
           It
           was
           so
           far
           from
           having
           the
           least
           Tincture
           of
           Pride
           ,
           or
           Peevishness
           ,
           or
           any
           thing
           distastful
           or
           disobliging
           ,
           that
           the
           Character
           of
           
             Deliciae
             Humani
             Generis
          
           ,
           might
           with
           as
           little
           suspicion
           of
           Flattery
           be
           bestowed
           on
           this
           Queen
           ,
           as
           on
           that
           〈◊〉
           Roman
           Emperour
           ,
           whose
           it
           〈◊〉
           .
           Nay
           I
           am
           perswaded
           ,
           that
           nev●●
           was
           so
           Great
           a
           Person
           so
           Great
           an
           Example
           of
           Condescending
           Courtesy
           ,
           Kindness
           and
           Sweetness
           ,
           as
           She
           was
           towards
           all
           about
           Her
           ,
           or
           that
           made
           Addresses
           to
           Her
           ;
           not
           Excepting
           the
           Meanest
           of
           Her
           poor
           Supplicants
           ,
           
           who
           were
           very
           Numerous
           .
           As
           more
           of
           true
           Majesty
           was
           never
           seen
           in
           a
           Sovereign
           ,
           than
           in
           Her
           ,
           So
           never
           appeared
           less
           of
           Loftiness
           ,
           or
           of
           Contemptuous
           Behaviour
           in
           a
           Subject
           .
           In
           the
           several
           Yearly
           Courses
           of
           my
           Waiting
           upon
           Her
           as
           Chaplain
           ,
           I
           can
           truly
           say
           ,
           I
           could
           never
           observe
           Her
           ,
           to
           the
           best
           of
           my
           remembrance
           ,
           either
           by
           any
           thing
           she
           said
           or
           by
           Her
           manner
           of
           speaking
           or
           by
           so
           much
           as
           a
           Look
           ,
           to
           be
           Angry
           or
           out
           of
           Humour
           .
        
         
           She
           did
           not
           seem
           to
           have
           any
           thing
           of
           Melancholy
           in
           Her
           Natural
           Complexion
           ,
           and
           yet
           ,
           which
           is
           very
           Extraordinary
           ,
           She
           was
           at
           a
           great
           distance
           from
           the
           other
           Extreme
           .
           She
           was
           Easie
           ,
           Free
           and
           Chearful
           ,
           but
           without
           the
           least
           appearance
           of
           Levity
           .
           She
           would
           neither
           ●e
           over
           whelmed
           with
           Grief
           ,
           nor
           transported
           with
           
           Ioy
           ,
           and
           yet
           was
           far
           from
           a
           Stoick
           ;
           Her
           Temper
           was
           sufficiently
           impressible
           .
           She
           hath
           been
           seen
           to
           Shed
           Tears
           ,
           with
           great
           Tenderness
           ,
           for
           the
           Death
           of
           a
           Person
           She
           had
           an
           Esteem
           for
           ,
           and
           would
           Express
           a
           due
           Sense
           at
           the
           hearing
           of
           Unwelcome
           Tidings
           ;
           And
           She
           had
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           Sympathy
           ,
           and
           Compassion
           in
           Her
           Nature
           ,
           as
           will
           be
           shewn
           :
           Yet
           She
           still
           bore
           Afflictions
           with
           great
           Patience
           ;
           they
           could
           not
           Extort
           from
           Her
           an
           Unseemly
           Word
           ,
           nor
           make
           Her
           Uneasy
           to
           any
           Body
           but
           Her self
           .
        
         
           Her
           parting
           with
           His
           Majesty
           once
           a
           Year
           was
           always
           Grievous
           to
           Her
           ,
           and
           a
           Cloud
           afterward
           appeared
           upon
           Her
           Countenance
           for
           a
           time
           ,
           but
           it
           was
           even
           Astonishing
           to
           observe
           ,
           not
           only
           how
           soon
           she
           Overcame
           Her
           Sorrow
           ,
           and
           Cleared
           up
           again
           ,
           but
           also
           with
           what
           Evenness
           and
           Composedness
           of
           Mind
           ,
           
           she
           could
           bear
           his
           Long
           Absences
           ,
           and
           the
           Thoughts
           of
           the
           infinite
           Dangers
           to
           which
           He
           Exposed
           his
           Royal
           Person
           .
           I
           say
           this
           was
           very
           wonderful
           ,
           Considering
           that
           She
           was
           a
           Pattern
           for
           
             the
             Best
             of
             Wives
          
           ;
           She
           always
           Expressed
           the
           Tenderest
           Affection
           to
           ,
           and
           the
           Highest
           Value
           for
           ,
           the
           King
           Her
           Husband
           .
           And
           therefore
           it
           was
           impossible
           for
           Her
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           Happiness
           of
           Her
           Temper
           ,
           so
           to
           demean
           Her self
           under
           such
           a
           Tryal
           ,
           had
           She
           not
           a
           great
           Faith
           in
           the
           Divine
           Protection
           ,
           being
           assured
           of
           His
           being
           Engaged
           in
           the
           Best
           of
           Causes
           .
        
         
           Such
           a
           Pattern
           was
           the
           Queen
           of
           Sobriety
           and
           freeness
           from
           Vanity
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           sorry
           so
           few
           of
           our
           Ladies
           could
           ever
           perswade
           themselves
           to
           have
           the
           Ambition
           herein
           to
           resemble
           Her
           :
           And
           that
           (
           contrary
           to
           the
           Custom
           ,
           which
           till
           this
           Reign
           hath
           here
           no
           less
           
           Prevailed
           ,
           than
           in
           other
           Countries
           )
           the
           Example
           of
           a
           Queen
           should
           be
           of
           little
           force
           ;
           nay
           of
           
             So
             little
          
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           be
           able
           to
           make
           such
           Childish
           Vanities
           as
           
             Spot●ed
             Faces
          
           ,
           out
           of
           fashion
           .
        
         
           And
           tho'
           Queens
           of
           all
           Ladies
           may
           be
           (
           I
           hope
           )
           Excused
           ,
           if
           they
           should
           exceed
           in
           their
           
             Ward●robe
             ▪
             our
          
           Queen
           was
           so
           far
           from
           being
           lyable
           to
           Censure
           upon
           that
           account
           ,
           that
           a
           Gentleman
           of
           great
           Worth
           ,
           whose
           Office
           would
           not
           let
           him
           be
           Ignorant
           of
           Her
           Expences
           ,
           did
           sometime
           since
           Profess
           ,
           that
           
             he
             was
             very
             unwilling
             to
             say
             how
             little
             she
             laid
             out
             upon
             Apparel
             .
          
        
         
           And
           as
           to
           the
           Sobriety
           which
           relates
           to
           the
           Palate
           ,
           She
           was
           so
           far
           from
           being
           fond
           of
           great
           Dainties
           ,
           that
           I
           heard
           Her
           once
           say
           ,
           that
           
             She
             could
             live
             in
             a
             Dairy
             .
          
        
         
           What
           an
           enemy
           She
           was
           to
           Idleness
           ,
           even
           in
           Ladies
           ,
           Those
           who
           had
           the
           
           Honour
           to
           serve
           Her
           ,
           are
           living
           instances
           .
           It
           is
           well
           known
           how
           great
           a
           part
           of
           the
           day
           they
           were
           employed
           at
           their
           Needles
           ,
           &
           several
           Ingenuities
           ;
           the
           Queen
           Herself
           ,
           when
           more
           Important
           Business
           would
           give
           Her
           leave
           ,
           Working
           with
           them
           .
           And
           ,
           that
           their
           Minds
           might
           be
           well
           Employed
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           it
           was
           Her
           Custome
           to
           Order
           one
           to
           read
           to
           them
           ,
           while
           they
           were
           at
           work
           ;
           either
           Divinity
           ,
           or
           some
           Profitable
           History
           .
        
         
           And
           what
           a
           value
           She
           set
           on
           Time
           ,
           appeared
           by
           Her
           leaving
           Her
           Pillow
           by
           Six
           in
           the
           Morning
           ,
           and
           Her
           late
           Returns
           to
           it
           :
           And
           by
           the
           Hours
           which
           She
           daily
           spent
           in
           Her
           Closet
           .
           And
           't
           was
           Admirable
           to
           see
           how
           She
           would
           Contrive
           ,
           to
           be
           as
           little
           as
           needs
           must
           out
           of
           Business
           .
           She
           did
           not
           spare
           so
           much
           as
           Her
           Dressing
           time
           from
           it
           :
           Which
           was
           after
           She
           had
           been
           
           first
           in
           Her
           Closet
           about
           half
           an
           hour
           ,
           and
           then
           ,
           after
           a
           Dish
           of
           Tea
           or
           Chocolat
           ,
           about
           two
           hours
           more
           .
           She
           appointed
           Her
           Levy
           (
           that
           is
           Her
           Dressing
           time
           )
           for
           the
           Receiving
           of
           Petitions
           ,
           and
           doing
           what
           other
           Business
           could
           then
           conveniently
           be
           dispatch't
           .
           And
           even
           now
           also
           would
           She
           have
           Reading
           when
           there
           was
           a
           vacancy
           for
           it
           .
           And
           this
           was
           the
           time
           which
           the
           Ladies
           knew
           to
           be
           most
           acceptable
           for
           the
           receiving
           of
           Visits
           ,
           because
           then
           they
           would
           least
           hinder
           Business
           .
           As
           for
           those
           Ladies
           who
           came
           at
           Her
           Working
           time
           ,
           they
           knew
           they
           should
           not
           be
           welcome
           ,
           except
           they
           work't
           too
           .
        
         
           Between
           the
           Chappel-Prayers
           and
           Dinner
           ,
           She
           would
           commonly
           walk
           into
           the
           Gardens
           ,
           and
           there
           see
           how
           the
           Gardners
           had
           observed
           Her
           Orders
           ,
           and
           farther
           appoint
           them
           what
           to
           do
           .
        
         
         
           But
           we
           must
           return
           to
           Her
           Closet
           ,
           where
           ,
           how
           She
           employed
           Herself
           ,
           we
           may
           more
           than
           guess
           ,
           by
           the
           Choyce
           Collection
           of
           Books
           She
           furnished
           it
           with
           ;
           as
           well
           of
           Divinity
           ,
           as
           History
           ,
           and
           other
           Learned
           and
           Ingenious
           Treatises
           ;
           and
           by
           the
           great
           improvement
           of
           Her
           Mind
           She
           gained
           by
           them
           :
           Which
           those
           Worthy
           Men
           who
           were
           Her
           Chaplains
           in
           Holland
           ,
           and
           the
           Learned
           Clerk
           of
           Her
           Closet
           here
           (
           who
           also
           for
           several
           years
           waited
           on
           Her
           there
           )
           can
           abundantly
           Witness
           .
           Those
           Histories
           She
           spent
           most
           time
           in
           ,
           were
           such
           as
           by
           which
           She
           might
           be
           best
           Accomplished
           ,
           for
           the
           most
           Difficult
           and
           Weighty
           Employment
           of
           a
           Sovereign
           Queen
           .
           And
           as
           to
           Divinity
           ,
           She
           had
           been
           such
           a
           Student
           therein
           ,
           as
           well
           to
           know
           ,
           upon
           what
           Grounds
           and
           Reasons
           ,
           She
           ought
           undoubtedly
           to
           Believe
           
           the
           Gospel
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           &
           the
           Evidence
           we
           have
           for
           the
           Truth
           thereof
           :
           And
           not
           only
           to
           have
           the
           truest
           understanding
           thereof
           ,
           whereby
           She
           could
           well
           distinguish
           between
           the
           true
           Teachers
           and
           the
           Corrupters
           of
           the
           Christian
           Doctrine
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           able
           to
           defend
           it
           ,
           and
           Especially
           against
           those
           of
           the
           Roman
           Communion
           ;
           Her
           greatest
           danger
           ,
           as
           I
           need
           not
           say
           ,
           having
           been
           from
           that
           Quarter
           .
        
         
           And
           't
           is
           highly
           worth
           our
           Notice
           ,
           what
           a
           not
           able
           Insight
           She
           had
           into
           the
           Errours
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           and
           how
           understandingly
           She
           would
           Argue
           against
           some
           of
           those
           Errours
           ,
           when
           very
           Young
           ,
           and
           what
           a
           warm
           Zeal
           She
           would
           even
           then
           express
           against
           Popery
           ;
           for
           which
           she
           got
           the
           Name
           of
           
             Queen
             Bess
          
           ,
           from
           her
           Uncle
           
             King
             Charles
          
           .
        
         
           And
           a
           Second
           
             Q.
             Elizabeth
          
           She
           
           proved
           to
           be
           ,
           both
           in
           regard
           of
           Her
           immoveable
           Constancy
           in
           adhering
           to
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           against
           vigorous
           Assaults
           ,
           which
           have
           not
           hitherto
           been
           made
           Publick
           ;
           and
           of
           her
           great
           Affection
           to
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           for
           whose
           true
           and
           just
           interest
           She
           was
           much
           concerned
           .
           But
           yet
           Her
           Love
           to
           this
           Church
           did
           not
           leven
           Her
           Mind
           ,
           with
           any
           sour
           Prejudices
           against
           Other
           Protestant
           Churches
           ,
           as
           That
           of
           Holland
           found
           by
           Experience
           ;
           nor
           lessened
           Her
           Charity
           towards
           Sober
           Dissenters
           among
           Our selves
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           as
           sensible
           as
           my
           Reader
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           now
           a
           little
           deviated
           from
           the
           Rules
           of
           Method
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           more
           pardonable
           to
           give
           You
           such
           Remarks
           as
           These
           in
           a
           less
           proper
           place
           ,
           than
           to
           forget
           them
           ,
           when
           I
           have
           a
           fi●●er
           for
           them
           .
        
         
         
           And
           now
           shall
           I
           need
           to
           add
           ,
           that
           our
           Incomparable
           QUEEN
           was
           also
           a
           Person
           of
           most
           sincere
           and
           Unaffected
           
             Devotion
             and
             Piety
          
           ?
           whether
           there
           be
           need
           of
           it
           or
           no
           ,
           I
           cannot
           decline
           this
           Subject
           .
        
         
           She
           was
           ,
           if
           Comparisons
           may
           be
           made
           ,
           
             Most
             Exemplary
          
           in
           Her
           Piety
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           very
           well
           Known
           ,
           in
           the
           First
           place
           ,
           how
           strictly
           Consciencious
           She
           was
           in
           the
           Observation
           of
           the
           
             Lord's
             Day
          
           ;
           and
           that
           as
           well
           Privately
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           Publick
           Assemblies
           .
        
         
           As
           She
           enjoyned
           Preaching
           in
           the
           Chapple-Royal
           after
           the
           Evening
           Prayers
           (
           though
           there
           were
           always
           Prayers
           ,
           and
           a
           Sermon
           twice
           every
           Sunday
           Morning
           )
           and
           likewise
           two
           Sermons
           ,
           with
           the
           Prayers
           ,
           
           on
           all
           the
           Monthly
           Fasts
           ,
           so
           was
           She
           constantly
           a
           most
           Serious
           and
           Devout
           Attender
           on
           them
           both
           parts
           of
           those
           days
           .
           As
           She
           was
           also
           on
           the
           
             Lords
             Supper
          
           ,
           the
           First
           Sunday
           of
           every
           Month.
           And
           She
           was
           observed
           to
           spend
           more
           Time
           than
           ordinary
           in
           Her
           Closet
           ,
           not
           onely
           the
           Day
           ,
           but
           also
           the
           Week
           before
           every
           Communion
           .
        
         
           Nor
           could
           any
           Business
           detein
           Her
           from
           Her
           Private
           Chappel
           ,
           neither
           Morning
           nor
           Evenings
           ,
           throughout
           the
           Week
           .
           In
           all
           the
           Times
           of
           my
           Waiting
           ,
           I
           never
           knew
           Her
           once
           absent
           .
           And
           whensoever
           She
           had
           Occasion
           to
           go
           Abroad
           a
           Mornings
           ,
           She
           gave
           Order
           for
           the
           Prayers
           before
           She
           went
           ;
           or
           if
           She
           intended
           to
           return
           to
           Dinner
           ,
           She
           would
           have
           them
           ,
           tho'
           late
           ,
           before
           She
           sate
           down
           at
           Table
           .
        
         
         
           And
           whereas
           it
           was
           the
           Practice
           in
           former
           Reigns
           ,
           to
           have
           onely
           the
           Second
           Lesson
           for
           the
           Morning
           and
           Evening
           Service
           read
           in
           the
           Private
           Chappel
           ,
           She
           Commanded
           to
           have
           both
           for
           the
           future
           .
           And
           it
           so
           fell
           out
           ,
           that
           I
           had
           the
           Honour
           of
           first
           receiving
           this
           Her
           Pious
           Command
           .
        
         
           But
           Her
           Piety
           was
           far
           from
           being
           confined
           to
           Her
           Chappels
           and
           Closet
           ;
           She
           was
           
             every
             where
          
           a
           like
           Pious
           in
           various
           Instances
           .
           A
           Reverence
           of
           the
           Deity
           shewed
           it self
           in
           every
           thing
           She
           said
           or
           did
           .
        
         
           Who
           ever
           heard
           Her
           take
           the
           Name
           of
           God
           or
           of
           our
           Saviour
           into
           Her
           Mouth
           ,
           in
           too
           light
           or
           vain
           a
           manner
           ?
           Tho'
           this
           Practice
           is
           grown
           so
           common
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           little
           scrupled
           by
           very
           many
           ,
           whom
           we
           may
           not
           censure
           as
           not
           truly
           Religious
           .
           
           Such
           is
           the
           Force
           of
           a
           General
           Custom
           .
        
         
           I
           do
           not
           ,
           you
           see
           ,
           speak
           of
           Profaining
           Gods
           Name
           by
           vain
           Swearing
           ,
           for
           it
           would
           be
           much
           too
           little
           a
           thing
           to
           say
           of
           such
           a
           Saint
           ,
           that
           She
           abhorred
           this
           ,
           but
           of
           all
           
             irreverend
             Use
             thereof
          
           ;
           but
           of
           this
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           our
           Blessed
           Queen
           did
           make
           great
           Conscience
           .
        
         
           And
           so
           did
           She
           no
           less
           ,
           of
           Censuring
           and
           speaking
           ill
           of
           Others
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           other
           Liberties
           ,
           which
           even
           great
           Professors
           of
           Religion
           do
           too
           commonly
           give
           themselves
           in
           Talking
           .
           And
           therefore
           She
           was
           one
           of
           St.
           James
           his
           Perfect
           Women
           ;
           for
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             If
             any
             offend
             not
             in
             Tongue
             ,
             the
             same
             is
             a
             Perfect
             Man.
             
          
        
         
           And
           it
           is
           no
           Wonder
           ,
           if
           She
           ,
           who
           could
           so
           perfectly
           govern
           Her
           
           Speech
           ,
           should
           be
           as
           void
           of
           Offence
           in
           all
           Her
           Actions
           .
           And
           it
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           so
           She
           was
           .
        
         
           So
           Extraordinary
           Strict
           was
           Her
           Majesties
           Life
           ,
           even
           from
           Her
           Youth
           ,
           that
           for
           the
           Seventeen
           Years
           of
           Her
           Married
           State
           ,
           The
           King
           ,
           as
           he
           hath
           Professed
           ,
           
             Could
             never
             see
             any
             thing
             in
             Her
             ,
             which
             He
             could
             call
             a
             Fault
             .
          
           And
           no
           Man
           can
           keep
           a
           Stricter
           Guard
           upon
           his
           words
           ▪
           than
           his
           Majesty
           is
           always
           observed
           to
           do
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           to
           the
           Positive
           instances
           of
           the
           Queens
           Piety
           ,
           or
           Fear
           of
           God
           ,
           they
           were
           such
           as
           shewed
           She
           made
           no
           less
           Conscience
           of
           Sins
           of
           Omission
           ,
           than
           of
           Commission
           .
        
         
           I
           might
           speak
           of
           the
           Pious
           Care
           She
           took
           of
           Her
           immediate
           Attendants
           ;
           and
           how
           concerned
           She
           was
           ,
           
           to
           have
           them
           secured
           from
           Temptations
           ,
           when
           they
           had
           occasion
           to
           go
           abroad
           .
           But
           I
           cannot
           omit
           One
           Passage
           ,
           which
           is
           an
           Equal
           Instance
           both
           of
           Her
           Piety
           and
           Humility
           .
           She
           having
           condescended
           to
           be
           God-Mother
           to
           a
           Daughter
           of
           one
           of
           Her
           Servants
           ,
           and
           calling
           to
           mind
           those
           Words
           at
           the
           end
           of
           the
           
             Office
             of
             Baptism
             ;
             You
             are
             to
             take
             Care
             ,
             that
             this
             Child
             be
             brought
             to
             the
             Bishop
             to
             be
             Confirmed
             by
             him
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           She
           not
           onely
           took
           this
           Care
           of
           Her
           God-Daughter
           ,
           but
           in
           Order
           to
           Her
           due
           Preparation
           for
           Confirmation
           ,
           would
           instruct
           her
           Herself
           ,
           and
           hear
           her
           say
           her
           Catechism
           .
           She
           did
           not
           think
           it
           enough
           ,
           to
           Command
           one
           of
           Her
           Servants
           ,
           or
           the
           
             Clerk
             of
             Her
             Closet
          
           ,
           to
           do
           this
           Office.
           
        
         
         
           And
           how
           great
           a
           concern
           She
           had
           for
           the
           Reforming
           of
           the
           Manners
           of
           Her
           Subjects
           ,
           in
           this
           very
           Loose
           Age
           ,
           appeared
           ,
           by
           Her
           most
           Pious
           Letter
           to
           the
           Iustices
           of
           Middlesex
           :
           Wherein
           She
           vigorously
           Excited
           them
           to
           do
           their
           Duty
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           Oaths
           ,
           in
           Executing
           the
           Laws
           against
           Swearers
           and
           Cursers
           ,
           and
           Profaners
           of
           the
           
             Lords
             day
          
           ,
           and
           all
           Debauched
           Persons
           .
        
         
           And
           Her
           Majesties
           Charity
           ought
           to
           be
           taken
           notice
           of
           next
           after
           Her
           Piety
           ;
           in
           which
           most
           Christian
           Grace
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           So
           Excellent
           a
           Person
           in
           all
           other
           Respects
           ,
           should
           be
           defective
           .
        
         
           The
           Queen
           could
           well
           distinguish
           ,
           between
           the
           Religion
           of
           the
           Means
           and
           of
           the
           End.
           And
           no
           one
           can
           be
           more
           sensible
           ,
           than
           She
           was
           ,
           
           how
           little
           Praying
           ,
           Hearing
           ,
           Reading
           and
           the
           Sacraments
           do
           signify
           ,
           to
           those
           who
           place
           the
           Whole
           of
           Religion
           in
           such
           Things
           ,
           as
           Necessary
           as
           they
           are
           .
           She
           knew
           that
           the
           Design
           of
           these
           Great
           Duties
           ,
           is
           the
           making
           us
           more
           and
           more
           to
           Partake
           of
           a
           Divine
           God-like
           Nature
           ;
           the
           Subduing
           of
           all
           Corrupt
           Affections
           and
           inordinate
           Appetites
           ,
           and
           the
           making
           us
           forward
           to
           all
           Good
           works
           .
        
         
           And
           it
           is
           Evident
           ,
           that
           these
           were
           the
           Ends
           She
           propounded
           to
           Herself
           ,
           in
           all
           Acts
           of
           Devotion
           ;
           as
           by
           Her
           great
           Proficiency
           in
           Other
           Virtues
           ,
           so
           particularly
           by
           Her
           Excelling
           in
           Works
           of
           Mercy
           and
           Charity
           .
        
         
           She
           filled
           Her
           Almoners
           with
           Business
           of
           this
           kind
           ,
           more
           perhaps
           than
           any
           King
           or
           Queen
           Ever
           did
           
           in
           this
           Kingdom
           ,
           within
           such
           a
           space
           of
           Time.
           And
           tha●
           not
           only
           in
           Distributions
           at
           Home
           ,
           but
           also
           in
           Foreign
           Parts
           ,
           among
           Poor
           Sufferers
           for
           the
           Sake
           of
           Christ.
           
        
         
           And
           I
           have
           good
           reason
           to
           believe
           from
           what
           I
           Know
           ,
           that
           Her
           Own
           Hands
           were
           likewise
           large
           Dispensers
           of
           very
           Private
           Charities
           .
        
         
           And
           it
           is
           strange
           ,
           that
           Her
           Memory
           should
           serve
           Her
           to
           be
           so
           Punctual
           as
           She
           was
           ,
           in
           the
           Payment
           of
           Her
           Private
           Pensions
           ,
           at
           the
           Times
           She
           had
           set
           for
           it
           ,
           without
           being
           put
           in
           mind
           of
           those
           Times
           when
           they
           came
           .
           And
           Her
           Memory
           was
           no
           less
           Faithful
           in
           reference
           to
           the
           Performance
           of
           Her
           Gracious
           Promises
           ;
           as
           I
           have
           known
           by
           Experience
           .
        
         
           These
           things
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           are
           very
           Strange
           ,
           Considering
           how
           Her
           Mind
           was
           always
           Loaded
           with
           Business
           ;
           
           and
           with
           Business
           of
           the
           greatest
           Weight
           &
           Importance
           ,
           especially
           when
           the
           King
           was
           Abroad
           :
           Which
           I
           think
           hath
           mostly
           been
           for
           the
           greater
           Part
           of
           Every
           Year
           .
           But
           it
           seems
           She
           thought
           nothing
           could
           be
           of
           greater
           Importance
           ,
           than
           Works
           of
           Charity
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           Last
           Place
           ,
           I
           cannot
           forbare
           taking
           notice
           of
           Another
           Rare
           Endowment
           with
           which
           Her
           Majesty
           was
           Adorned
           ,
           and
           which
           few
           would
           expect
           to
           find
           in
           the
           Character
           of
           a
           Woman
           ,
           tho'
           a
           Queen
           ,
           viz.
           Courage
           and
           Fortitude
           .
           Herein
           was
           She
           also
           a
           
             Second
             Queen
             Elizabeth
          
           .
        
         
           This
           was
           Eminently
           demonstrated
           by
           Her
           Manly
           (
           Her
           more
           than
           Manly
           )
           Behaviour
           ,
           when
           the
           
             French
             Bravadoed
          
           it
           upon
           our
           Coast
           :
           And
           
           great
           Danger
           apprehended
           from
           our
           Busy
           Enemies
           at
           Home
           ,
           and
           of
           Treachery
           in
           our
           Navy
           ;
           and
           The
           King
           then
           in
           very
           difficult
           Circumstances
           in
           Ireland
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           the
           Streight
           ,
           the
           Queen
           was
           now
           in
           ,
           seemed
           much
           like
           that
           of
           David
           at
           Ziklag
           ;
           and
           much
           Greater
           than
           that
           of
           Queen
           Elizabeth
           at
           Tilbury
           .
           But
           now
           did
           She
           demean
           Herself
           ,
           not
           only
           as
           That
           Queen
           ,
           but
           as
           David
           did
           at
           that
           Time
           ,
           
             She
             Encouraged
             Herself
             in
             the
             Lord
             Her
             God.
          
           And
           Those
           who
           should
           have
           Animated
           Her
           ,
           had
           She
           need
           of
           being
           Animated
           by
           them
           ,
           were
           chiefly
           supported
           by
           the
           Observations
           they
           made
           of
           the
           Admirable
           presence
           of
           Mind
           ,
           She
           all
           along
           shewed
           .
           Minding
           the
           Business
           which
           the
           Exegency
           of
           Affairs
           called
           for
           ,
           and
           Expressing
           no
           dissidence
           of
           Success
           .
        
         
         
           And
           this
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           was
           one
           of
           those
           Times
           ,
           to
           which
           a
           Noble
           Earl
           referred
           ,
           in
           this
           Saying
           which
           I
           heard
           from
           him
           ,
           
             viz.
             We
             have
             owed
             our
             Safety
             more
             than
             Once
             ,
             to
             the
             Queens
             Care
             and
             Vigilancy
             .
          
           And
           he
           was
           at
           such
           a
           Post
           ,
           in
           all
           the
           most
           difficult
           part
           of
           Their
           Majesties
           Reign
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           best
           Able
           of
           any
           Minister
           of
           State
           ,
           to
           say
           this
           of
           his
           own
           Knowledge
           .
        
         
           I
           cannot
           here
           Omit
           the
           mentioning
           ,
           (
           tho'
           it
           would
           have
           better
           come
           in
           before
           )
           what
           Another
           Great
           Person
           ,
           very
           Eminent
           for
           Piety
           as
           well
           as
           Parts
           and
           Learning
           ,
           with
           whom
           the
           Queen
           frequently
           Conversed
           ,
           did
           say
           to
           me
           of
           Her
           ,
           about
           Four
           Years
           since
           ,
           viz.
           She
           is
           so
           Good
           ,
           that
           when
           I
           Compare
           my self
           with
           Her
           ,
           I
           am
           Ashamed
           to
           find
           ,
           how
           much
           I
           fall
           short
           of
           Her.
           
        
         
         
           She
           was
           so
           great
           an
           Example
           of
           Piety
           and
           every
           Virtue
           ,
           that
           Considering
           them
           altogether
           ,
           it
           can
           be
           no
           Hyperbole
           to
           say
           ,
           Certainly
           a
           Greater
           never
           Graced
           a
           Throne
           .
           She
           had
           the
           Virtues
           of
           the
           Best
           Princes
           ,
           without
           the
           least
           Mixture
           of
           those
           Failings
           ,
           with
           which
           the
           Names
           of
           most
           of
           them
           are
           Stained
           in
           History
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           that
           One
           (
           that
           onely
           )
           Thing
           ,
           which
           our
           Male-Contents
           would
           fix
           as
           a
           foul
           Blot
           upon
           Her
           Majesties
           Memory
           ;
           would
           they
           once
           be
           Perswaded
           to
           lay
           aside
           their
           Prejudices
           ,
           and
           the
           groundless
           Notions
           they
           have
           Entertained
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           they
           should
           not
           at
           length
           see
           ,
           with
           the
           Generality
           of
           their
           Protestant
           Brethren
           ,
           not
           only
           at
           Home
           ,
           but
           throughout
           Christendom
           ,
           that
           
           That
           which
           they
           would
           make
           such
           ●n
           Hainous
           Crime
           in
           the
           King
           and
           Queen
           ,
           is
           rather
           an
           Instance
           of
           
             Heroick
             Virtue
          
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           What
           greater
           Demonstrations
           can
           they
           desire
           ,
           than
           He
           hath
           given
           them
           ,
           of
           his
           not
           having
           been
           Acted
           in
           what
           so
           much
           Offends
           them
           ,
           by
           Aspiring
           Ambition
           ?
           For
           had
           He
           been
           induced
           by
           so
           very
           Bad
           a
           Principle
           ,
           to
           take
           upon
           Him
           the
           Government
           of
           these
           Kingdoms
           ,
           Are
           they
           able
           to
           imagine
           He
           would
           have
           Harassed
           Himself
           ,
           and
           run
           so
           many
           Tremendous
           Hazards
           ,
           as
           He
           hath
           done
           ever
           since
           ,
           both
           by
           Land
           and
           Sea
           ?
           Can
           they
           think
           it
           Possible
           for
           Him
           to
           chuse
           such
           a
           Life
           ,
           had
           He
           Accepted
           of
           Three
           Crowns
           for
           the
           Pleasure
           of
           Wearing
           them
           ?
        
         
           Had
           this
           been
           his
           Ultimate
           Design
           ,
           His
           Haughty
           Neighbour
           had
           
           too
           many
           Irons
           in
           the
           Fire
           ,
           to
           have
           given
           Him
           the
           least
           Disturbance
           in
           the
           Enjoyment
           of
           His
           Acquisitions
           :
           And
           would
           have
           Thanked
           Him
           to
           let
           Him
           have
           owned
           Him
           for
           His
           Brother
           ;
           and
           to
           have
           consented
           to
           such
           a
           League
           with
           Him
           ,
           as
           that
           he
           made
           with
           the
           Late
           Usurper
           :
           And
           would
           no
           more
           have
           been
           King
           
           James's
           Friend
           ,
           than
           he
           was
           King
           
           Charles's
           ,
           when
           He
           fled
           to
           him
           for
           Succour
           ;
           but
           would
           have
           served
           the
           One
           as
           he
           did
           the
           Other
           .
        
         
           Those
           know
           Nothing
           ,
           of
           that
           Prince
           who
           hath
           made
           himself
           so
           well
           known
           to
           All
           Europe
           ,
           that
           can
           make
           the
           least
           doubt
           of
           this
           .
        
         
           One
           would
           think
           therefore
           ,
           that
           Malice
           it self
           should
           not
           need
           to
           be
           satisfied
           ,
           That
           King
           William
           Accepted
           not
           of
           these
           Crowns
           ,
           otherwise
           than
           as
           a
           Means
           to
           the
           Noblest
           of
           Ends
           ,
           
           viz.
           The
           Rescuing
           of
           both
           These
           and
           the
           Neighbouring
           Nations
           ,
           from
           Popery
           ,
           Oppression
           and
           Slavery
           .
        
         
           And
           would
           the
           Men
           I
           am
           dealing
           with
           ,
           have
           had
           the
           Queen
           obstruct
           This
           Glorious
           Work
           ,
           by
           Refusing
           to
           sit
           with
           her
           Royal
           Husband
           upon
           the
           English
           Throne
           ,
           merely
           because
           That
           Prince
           was
           her
           Father
           who
           left
           it
           Empty
           ?
           When
           if
           He
           could
           have
           been
           satisfied
           ,
           not
           to
           Subject
           Himself
           to
           the
           
             Tripple
             Crown
          
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           be
           Governed
           by
           the
           Counsels
           of
           Jesuites
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Dictates
           of
           the
           Greatest
           Enemy
           we
           are
           capable
           of
           having
           ;
           and
           to
           let
           his
           People
           enjoy
           their
           Religion
           ,
           and
           Laws
           ;
           He
           might
           have
           Reigned
           as
           happily
           ,
           notwithstanding
           his
           being
           a
           Son
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           as
           ever
           did
           Any
           of
           His
           Royal
           Protestant
           Predecessors
           .
        
         
           Should
           the
           Queen
           have
           been
           so
           
           Wilful
           ,
           as
           to
           prefer
           the
           False
           Interest
           of
           a
           Father
           ,
           to
           both
           the
           Temporal
           and
           Spiritual
           Interest
           of
           many
           Whole
           
             Nations
             ▪
          
           to
           the
           Interest
           of
           so
           many
           Millions
           of
           Bodies
           and
           Souls
           too
           )
           She
           would
           have
           left
           a
           Blot
           indeed
           upon
           Her
           now
           Spotless
           and
           most
           Precious
           Memory
           .
        
         
           In
           what
           I
           have
           here
           said
           of
           Her
           Majesty
           ,
           Which
           is
           Extreamly
           little
           ,
           Considering
           what
           She
           deserved
           ,
           I
           sincerely
           Profess
           that
           I
           have
           no
           other
           Aim
           ,
           but
           to
           make
           us
           the
           more
           Affected
           with
           that
           Sad
           Providence
           ,
           which
           hath
           deprived
           Us
           of
           Her
           ;
           in
           Order
           to
           our
           making
           that
           good
           improvement
           thereof
           which
           God
           Expecteth
           .
        
         
           Had
           the
           Queens
           High
           Deserts
           been
           Published
           in
           Her
           Life
           time
           ,
           the
           Publisher
           ought
           to
           have
           been
           content
           to
           be
           Cryed
           Shame
           of
           ,
           as
           a
           Foolish
           Fulsome
           
           Flatterer
           ;
           And
           that
           I
           may
           not
           now
           incur
           the
           Suspition
           of
           Flattery
           ,
           you
           see
           how
           sparing
           I
           have
           been
           in
           speaking
           of
           the
           King.
           But
           this
           I
           may
           be
           allowed
           to
           say
           of
           his
           Majesty
           ,
           That
           He
           had
           an
           High
           Esteem
           for
           His
           Royal
           Consort
           ,
           upon
           the
           account
           both
           of
           Her
           Wisdom
           and
           Piety
           .
        
         
           And
           the
           King
           Bewails
           Her
           Death
           ,
           as
           an
           unspeakable
           Loss
           to
           Himself
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           to
           His
           People
           .
           He
           declared
           ,
           like
           a
           good
           Christian
           ,
           when
           He
           had
           no
           Hope
           of
           Her
           Life
           ,
           That
           
             He
             did
             not
             Repine
             at
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             :
          
           But
           yet
           the
           Thoughts
           of
           His
           Parting
           with
           Her
           did
           Put
           Him
           ,
           as
           Great
           a
           Soul
           as
           He
           hath
           ,
           into
           Terrible
           Agonies
           .
           Which
           were
           so
           far
           from
           being
           
           Blame-Worthy
           ,
           that
           they
           made
           His
           Submission
           to
           That
           Hand
           ,
           which
           gave
           Him
           this
           Bitter
           Cup
           to
           drink
           ,
           
           the
           more
           like
           His
           Blessed
           Saviours
           .
        
         
           And
           the
           Queens
           Death
           was
           such
           as
           it
           might
           have
           been
           Presumed
           ,
           such
           a
           Life
           would
           End
           in
           .
           Upon
           Her
           having
           the
           first
           Intimation
           of
           the
           Danger
           She
           was
           in
           ,
           She
           Replyed
           to
           this
           Effect
           :
           
             I
             have
             been
             instructed
             by
             the
             Divines
             of
             our
             Church
             ,
             how
             very
             Hazardous
             a
             thing
             it
             is
             to
             Rely
             upon
             a
             Death-Bed
             Repentance
          
           ;
           and
           I
           am
           not
           now
           to
           begin
           the
           Great
           Work
           of
           Preparing
           for
           Death
           :
           And
           ,
           I
           Praise
           God
           ,
           I
           am
           not
           Afraid
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           She
           was
           so
           Composed
           throughout
           Her
           Sickness
           ,
           that
           't
           was
           Evident
           She
           had
           not
           the
           least
           disturbance
           upon
           Her
           Mind
           ;
           but
           that
           all
           was
           Calm
           and
           Serene
           within
           Her.
           One
           of
           Her
           Physicians
           (
           a
           very
           Worthy
           Gentleman
           )
           was
           so
           Affected
           with
           
           the
           Observations
           he
           then
           made
           of
           Her
           ,
           as
           since
           to
           say
           ,
           
             She
             seemed
             to
             me
             ,
             more
             like
             an
             Angel
             ,
             than
             a
             Woman
             .
          
        
         
           Frequently
           She
           called
           for
           the
           Prayers
           ,
           which
           my
           Lord
           of
           Canterbury
           still
           read
           to
           Her
           ;
           And
           about
           Twelve
           hours
           before
           Her
           Departure
           ,
           She
           Comfortably
           received
           the
           
             Holy
             Communion
          
           at
           his
           Hands
           ,
           Seven
           Bishops
           Communicating
           with
           Her.
           And
           at
           last
           She
           went
           away
           as
           quietly
           as
           a
           Lamb
           ,
           with
           
             Her
             Works
             following
             Her.
          
           
        
         
           Oh!
           What
           a
           Dark
           ,
           What
           a
           Black
           Christmas
           hath
           this
           Year
           brought
           us
           !
           We
           may
           well
           apply
           thereto
           those
           Words
           in
           the
           Prophesy
           of
           
             Amos
             ,
             It
             shall
             come
             to
             Pass
             ,
             saith
             the
             Lord
             ,
             that
             I
             will
             cause
             the
             S●●
             to
             go
             
             down
             at
             Noon-Day
             ,
          
           (
           and
           it
           was
           scarce
           Noon-day
           ,
           with
           This
           our
           Bright
           Sun
           ,
           when
           it
           sett
           )
           
             and
             I
             will
             turn
             your
             Feasts
             into
             Mourning
             ,
             and
             all
             your
             Songs
             into
             Lamentation
             .
          
        
         
           And
           now
           ,
           if
           my
           Grief
           could
           Permit
           me
           farther
           to
           Aggravate
           this
           our
           Loss
           ,
           after
           the
           Faithful
           Representation
           ,
           as
           defective
           as
           it
           is
           ,
           which
           hath
           been
           given
           of
           the
           Worth
           of
           the
           Jewel
           we
           have
           lost
           ,
           it
           would
           not
           signifie
           much
           to
           you
           :
           since
           the
           Loss
           is
           such
           ,
           as
           that
           you
           can
           Conceive
           ,
           much
           better
           than
           I
           can
           Express
           the
           Greatness
           of
           it
           .
           And
           if
           it
           be
           not
           Year
           after
           Year
           more
           and
           more
           Felt
           ,
           and
           therefore
           better
           Understood
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           what
           we
           have
           as
           little
           reason
           as
           can
           be
           ,
           to
           expect
           .
        
         
           And
           nothing
           but
           wretched
           Inconsideration
           
           can
           make
           us
           Fearless
           of
           its
           being
           designed
           for
           a
           Presage
           and
           Forerunner
           of
           other
           Calamities
           ;
           while
           we
           continue
           so
           Bad
           a
           People
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           Great
           Blessings
           ,
           both
           Spiritual
           and
           Temporal
           ,
           which
           our
           Nation
           hath
           had
           a
           long
           Enjoyment
           of
           ,
           above
           all
           other
           Parts
           of
           Christendom
           :
           And
           while
           most
           Countries
           about
           us
           have
           lain
           under
           Oppression
           and
           Tyranny
           ,
           and
           been
           in
           Blood
           and
           Confusion
           :
           And
           notwithstanding
           our
           late
           most
           wonderful
           Deliverance
           ,
           and
           the
           strange
           and
           unexpected
           Things
           which
           God
           hath
           since
           done
           for
           us
           ,
           towards
           the
           Securing
           and
           the
           Perfecting
           thereof
           .
        
         
           The
           most
           serious
           People
           are
           much
           afraid
           ,
           That
           Her
           Majesty
           
             is
             taken
             away
             from
             the
             Evil
             to
             come
             ,
          
           when
           they
           Reflect
           upon
           the
           High
           Provocation
           ,
           we
           have
           given
           to
           the
           
           Divine
           Majesty
           ,
           by
           our
           Obstinate
           Aversion
           to
           the
           least
           Reformation
           ,
           either
           of
           Manners
           ,
           or
           of
           any
           thing
           Amiss
           ,
           after
           all
           the
           Marvellous
           Interpositions
           of
           Providence
           ,
           in
           the
           Behalf
           both
           of
           our
           Church
           and
           State.
           
        
         
           God
           saw
           Her
           to
           be
           incomparably
           too
           Good
           for
           a
           People
           ,
           who
           would
           not
           Mend
           in
           the
           least
           by
           Her
           Example
           :
           And
           therefore
           what
           can
           we
           reasonably
           think
           ,
           but
           that
           He
           took
           Her
           hence
           in
           just
           Iudgment
           to
           Us
           ,
           tho'
           in
           infinite
           Mercy
           to
           Herself
           .
           At
           least
           ,
           this
           sad
           Conclusion
           may
           be
           made
           from
           this
           Providence
           ,
           if
           we
           should
           be
           as
           insensible
           of
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           in
           our
           Loss
           of
           Her
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           been
           of
           the
           Blessing
           we
           had
           in
           Her
           ,
           while
           we
           enjoyed
           Her.
           And
           Her
           Kingdoms
           might
           have
           enjoyed
           Her
           more
           than
           Forty
           Years
           longer
           ,
           had
           they
           better
           deserved
           Her.
           
        
         
         
           Had
           Her
           Life
           been
           prolonged
           to
           such
           a
           Number
           of
           Years
           ,
           it
           would
           have
           been
           no
           strange
           thing
           ,
           considering
           Her
           Temperance
           ,
           and
           the
           Healthfulness
           and
           Strength
           of
           Her
           Constitution
           .
        
         
           We
           can
           assign
           no
           mere
           Natural
           Reason
           ,
           Why
           She
           might
           not
           at
           least
           have
           lived
           to
           the
           Age
           of
           Queen
           Elizabeth
           ,
           who
           dyed
           before
           She
           was
           Seventy
           Years
           Old
           ,
           and
           yet
           was
           
             Thirty
             Eight
          
           Years
           Elder
           than
           our
           Blessed
           Queen
           Mary
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           it
           should
           prove
           ,
           That
           this
           sad
           stroke
           should
           be
           lost
           upon
           us
           ,
           what
           Cause
           may
           we
           have
           to
           dread
           ,
           a
           yet
           Sadder
           !
           I
           mean
           the
           losing
           of
           our
           King
           too
           ,
           who
           may
           well
           be
           called
           ,
           
             The
             very
             Breath
             of
             our
             Nostrils
             ,
          
           since
           the
           Prophet
           Jeremiah
           did
           so
           stile
           a
           Prince
           ,
           who
           deserved
           not
           to
           be
           Named
           on
           the
           same
           day
           with
           Him.
           
        
         
         
           And
           well
           may
           I
           say
           ,
           that
           the
           Loss
           of
           King
           William
           ,
           would
           be
           the
           Greatest
           ,
           that
           (
           Humanly
           speaking
           )
           can
           befal
           us
           :
           Since
           those
           are
           worse
           than
           Blind
           ,
           who
           will
           not
           see
           ,
           That
           the
           Safety
           of
           these
           Nations
           ,
           and
           of
           at
           least
           all
           our
           Protestant
           Neighbours
           ,
           doth
           wholly
           ,
           under
           God
           Almighty
           ,
           depend
           upon
           His
           Precious
           Life
           ;
           and
           must
           necessarily
           so
           do
           in
           the
           Eye
           of
           Reason
           ,
           while
           our
           Circumstances
           continue
           as
           they
           are
           Abroad
           .
        
         
           Should
           God
           call
           the
           King
           from
           us
           ,
           before
           our
           Danger
           from
           France
           is
           Over
           ,
           I
           can
           not
           think
           but
           the
           Faces
           of
           many
           of
           his
           Professed
           Enemies
           would
           soon
           gather
           Blackness
           ,
           at
           the
           Scaring
           Prospect
           which
           those
           who
           can
           see
           but
           one
           Inch
           before
           them
           ,
           must
           needs
           then
           have
           a
           Clear
           sight
           of
           .
           And
           then
           it
           may
           Endanger
           their
           Losing
           that
           Sense
           they
           
           have
           left
           them
           ,
           to
           Reflect
           upon
           their
           Prodigious
           insensibility
           of
           their
           own
           interest
           ,
           whether
           they
           Ever
           Come
           or
           no
           ,
           to
           have
           any
           Concernment
           for
           the
           Publick
           .
        
         
           And
           what
           Cause
           have
           we
           to
           Pray
           Heartily
           for
           the
           Kings
           Long
           and
           Prosperous
           Reign
           Over
           us
           ,
           from
           Affection
           to
           Him
           as
           well
           as
           to
           Our Selves
           !
           Since
           to
           Him
           ,
           as
           Gods
           great
           Instrument
           ,
           We
           Owe
           the
           Preservation
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           that
           is
           Dear
           to
           us
           !
        
         
           To
           Conclude
           ,
           Those
           who
           are
           so
           Irreligious
           as
           to
           look
           no
           farther
           ,
           than
           the
           Natural
           Cause
           of
           the
           Queens
           Death
           ,
           are
           never
           like
           to
           be
           Bettered
           thereby
           .
           But
           Such
           as
           are
           duly
           Sensible
           of
           Gods
           Hand
           therein
           ;
           who
           could
           easily
           have
           Prevented
           it
           without
           a
           Miracle
           ,
           and
           by
           his
           Ordinary
           Providence
           
           too
           ,
           had
           He
           seen
           it
           in
           His
           infinite
           Wisdom
           Fit
           ;
           Can
           not
           but
           See
           what
           an
           Awakening
           Providence
           This
           is
           ,
           Loudly
           Calling
           upon
           us
           to
           Attone
           His
           Wrath
           ,
           by
           deep
           Humiliation
           ,
           Hearty
           Repentance
           and
           Reformation
           .
        
         
           But
           let
           the
           Consequents
           of
           this
           Stroke
           be
           never
           so
           Sad
           ,
           we
           ought
           ,
           with
           Holy
           King
           
             David
             ,
             To
             be
             dumb
             ,
             and
             not
             open
             our
             Mouths
             ,
             because
             it
             was
             Gods
             doing
             :
          
           And
           to
           say
           ,
           
             Righteous
             art
             Thou
             O
             Lord
             ,
             and
             just
             ,
          
           most
           just
           ,
           
             are
             Thy
             Judgments
          
           .
        
         
           And
           indeed
           to
           have
           such
           a
           Blessing
           as
           This
           ,
           Snatcht
           away
           from
           us
           ,
           and
           one
           so
           Qualified
           in
           all
           respects
           ,
           and
           so
           desirous
           too
           ,
           to
           make
           us
           (
           in
           Conjunction
           with
           Her
           Royal
           Companion
           
           in
           the
           Throne
           )
           both
           a
           Good
           and
           a
           Flourishing
           People
           ;
           and
           that
           in
           the
           very
           Flower
           of
           Her
           Years
           ,
           and
           in
           an
           Age
           which
           could
           worst
           Spare
           Her
           ;
           Religion
           being
           now
           at
           so
           low
           an
           Ebb
           ,
           and
           Wickedness
           and
           Infidelity
           so
           Abounding
           ;
           This
           is
           Such
           a
           Calamity
           ,
           as
           no
           Considerations
           can
           Support
           Good
           People
           under
           it
           ,
           like
           the
           Thoughts
           of
           His
           Hands
           being
           in
           it
           from
           whence
           
             we
             receive
             all
             our
             Good
             ,
             and
             therefore
             ought
             to
             receive
             Evil
             :
          
           And
           the
           Assurance
           we
           have
           ,
           that
           Our
           Mighty
           Loss
           is
           Her
           Infinite
           Gain
           .
        
         
           
             Edward
             Gloucester
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             JOB
             ,
             II.
             X.
             
          
           
             What
             ?
             Shall
             we
             receive
             Good
             at
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             shall
             we
             not
             receive
             Evil
             ?
          
        
         
           THe
           Wicked
           Speech
           of
           
           Iob's
           Wife
           in
           the
           foregoing
           Verse
           ,
           was
           the
           occasion
           of
           these
           Words
           .
           Observing
           his
           perseverance
           in
           his
           Integ●●ty
           ;
           and
           not
           onely
           his
           Patient
           Submission
           to
           ,
           but
           also
           Thankful
           Acquiescence
           in
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           ,
           under
           the
           Heaviest
           of
           Calamities
           ,
           she
           brake
           out
           into
           these
           most
           Impious
           and
           Blasphemous
           Words
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           in
           our
           
             Translation
             ,
             Dost
             thou
             still
             retein
             thine
             Integrity
             ?
             Curse
             God
             and
             dye
             .
          
           Whereupon
           
           the
           Holy
           Man
           gives
           her
           this
           Reply
           ,
           
             Thou
             speakest
             as
             one
             of
             the
             foolish
             Women
             speaketh
             ;
             What
             ?
             Shall
             we
             receive
             Good
             at
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             shall
             we
             not
             receive
             Evil
             ?
          
        
         
           That
           speech
           of
           hers
           is
           variously
           rendred
           ,
           but
           I
           shall
           onely
           Observe
           ,
           that
           the
           Hebrew
           Word
           which
           is
           here
           Translated
           Curse
           ,
           
           properly
           signifies
           the
           contrary
           ,
           Bless
           .
           The
           Old
           Latin
           Version
           so
           renders
           it
           in
           this
           Place
           ;
           but
           I
           acknowledge
           so
           it
           doth
           too
           ,
           in
           that
           saying
           of
           the
           
             Devil
             ,
             He
             will
             Curse
             Thee
             to
             Thy
             face
          
           ;
           where
           the
           same
           Word
           is
           used
           ,
           but
           our
           Translation
           there
           must
           needs
           be
           right
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           have
           thought
           it
           strange
           ,
           that
           the
           Septuagint
           should
           render
           this
           Speech
           of
           
           Iob's
           Wife
           ,
           
           
             Blapheme
             God
             and
             dye
          
           ;
           where
           the
           Word
           may
           very
           well
           signifie
           Bless
           ;
           and
           yet
           render
           that
           other
           of
           the
           Devil
           ,
           
           
             He
             will
             Bless
             Thee
             to
             thy
             face
          
           ;
           where
           't
           is
           manifest
           it
           must
           signifie
           Curse
           ;
           as
           it
           does
           in
           some
           few
           other
           Texts
           .
        
         
           In
           short
           ,
           I
           see
           no
           reason
           why
           we
           should
           not
           (
           with
           some
           of
           our
           most
           Learned
           Expositors
           )
           understand
           this
           
           Word
           here
           according
           to
           its
           Proper
           signification
           ;
           and
           so
           make
           
           Iob's
           Wife
           to
           say
           to
           him
           ,
           
             Bless
             God
             and
             dye
          
           .
        
         
           You
           may
           Object
           ,
           Why
           then
           should
           these
           Words
           so
           strike
           Iob
           to
           the
           heart
           ,
           as
           his
           Reply
           shews
           they
           did
           ,
           
             viz.
             Thou
             speakest
             as
             one
             of
             the
             foolish
             Women
             speaketh
          
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           Thou
           speakest
           like
           a
           
             Wicked
             Wretch
          
           .
        
         
           
             I
             Answer
             ,
             That
             't
             is
             too
             evident
             these
             Words
             were
             spoken
          
           Tauntingly
           ,
           
             and
             therefore
             well
             deserved
             so
             severe
             a
             Rebuke
             :
             They
             may
             be
             thus
             Paraphras'd
             :
          
           I
           see
           thou
           art
           a
           wonderful
           Thankful
           Man
           :
           Thou
           canst
           bless
           God
           ,
           when
           of
           a
           vastly
           Rich
           Man
           ,
           He
           makes
           thee
           a
           Beggar
           ;
           when
           of
           a
           Father
           ,
           of
           no
           fewer
           than
           Ten
           Children
           ,
           He
           makes
           thee
           Childless
           in
           a
           Moment
           :
           Go
           on
           to
           Bless
           Him
           still
           ,
           since
           thou
           hast
           so
           great
           Encouragement
           ;
           the
           Reward
           He
           designs
           thee
           being
           the
           destroying
           of
           thee
           ,
           next
           after
           thy
           Children
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           saying
           ,
           
             Bless
             God
             and
             dye
          
           ,
           used
           as
           a
           Taunt
           ,
           I
           need
           not
           tell
           you
           was
           highly
           daring
           and
           presumptuous
           ;
           tho'
           not
           so
           Horribly
           Profane
           as
           
             Curse
             God
             and
             dye
          
           .
        
         
         
           
             In
             Discoursing
             on
             the
          
           Latter
           
             Part
             of
          
           Iob
           '
           
             s
             Admirable
             Reply
          
           ,
           What
           ?
           Shall
           we
           receive
           Good
           at
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           shall
           we
           not
           receive
           Evil
           ?
           
             I
             shall
             endeavour
             to
             shew
          
           ,
           
             
               I.
               That
               Evil
               proceeds
               from
               the
               Hand
               of
               God
               as
               well
               as
               Good.
               
            
             
               II.
               What
               is
               meant
               by
               Receiving
               Evil
               at
               His
               Hand
               .
            
             
               III.
               How
               our
               Receiving
               Good
               is
               a
               Motive
               to
               receive
               Evil
               at
               His
               Hand
               too
               :
               Or
               where
               in
               lies
               the
               Force
               of
               this
               Motive
               .
            
             
               IV.
               I
               shall
               draw
               several
               Inferences
               from
               the
               whole
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             First
             ,
             That
          
           Evil
           
             proceeds
             from
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             well
             as
          
           Good.
           Or
           ,
           that
           Evil
           Events
           as
           well
           as
           good
           ,
           are
           from
           the
           Divine
           Providence
           .
           You
           see
           I
           shall
           take
           it
           
             for
             granted
          
           that
           Good
           things
           are
           all
           from
           God
           ;
           
           and
           well
           I
           may
           ,
           since
           Tully
           could
           ask
           ,
           
             Why
             do
             we
             Worship
             Him
             ,
             or
             Pray
             to
             Him
             ,
             if
             it
             were
             otherwise
             ?
          
           And
           he
           thought
           ,
           with
           Posidonius
           before
           him
           ,
           that
           a
           Man
           cannot
           deny
           this
           ,
           but
           he
           must
           
           be
           an
           Atheist
           ;
           and
           therefore
           made
           no
           better
           Men
           of
           Epicurus
           and
           his
           Followers
           ,
           tho'
           none
           did
           more
           Profess
           the
           Belief
           of
           a
           Deity
           .
        
         
           But
           we
           will
           a
           little
           Enquire
           ,
           Whether
           Evil
           things
           do
           come
           also
           from
           God's
           Hand
           ;
           because
           those
           who
           have
           the
           Highest
           Thoughts
           of
           the
           Divine
           Goodness
           ,
           may
           be
           most
           apt
           to
           Question
           how
           God
           can
           be
           the
           Author
           of
           any
           Evil
           ;
           How
           out
           of
           the
           same
           Fountain
           can
           Flow
           ,
           both
           Sweet
           Streams
           and
           Bitter
           ;
           Or
           rather
           ,
           How
           Bitterness
           can
           issue
           forth
           from
           the
           Fountain
           of
           Sweetness
           .
        
         
           Now
           that
           this
           is
           very
           Accountable
           ,
           will
           chiefly
           appear
           from
           what
           we
           are
           to
           say
           hereafter
           .
           Our
           present
           Business
           is
           to
           shew
           ,
           That
           Evils
           do
           proceed
           from
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           ;
           as
           also
           what
           Hand
           He
           hath
           in
           th●m
           .
        
         
           
             That
             they
          
           do
           
             proceed
             from
             His
             Hand
             ,
             is
             so
             evident
             from
             the
             Holy
             Scriptures
             ,
             that
             nothing
             is
             more
             evident
             .
             God
             Almighty
             saith
             by
             His
             Prophet
          
           Isaiah
           ,
           Ch.
           45.
           7.
           
           I
           form
           the
           Light
           ,
           and
           create
           Darkness
           ;
           I
           make
           Peace
           ,
           and
           create
           Evil
           :
           I
           the
           Lord
           
           do
           all
           these
           things
           .
           
             And
             by
             His
             Prophet
          
           Amos
           ,
           Ch.
           3.
           6.
           
           Shall
           there
           be
           Evil
           in
           a
           City
           ,
           and
           the
           Lord
           hath
           not
           done
           it
           ?
           
             And
             by
             His
             Servant
          
           Moses
           ,
           Deut.
           32.
           39.
           
           See
           now
           ,
           that
           I
           even
           I
           am
           He
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           no
           God
           with
           me
           ;
           I
           kill
           and
           I
           make
           alive
           ,
           I
           wound
           and
           I
           heal
           ;
           neither
           is
           there
           any
           that
           can
           deliver
           out
           of
           my
           Hand
           .
           
             And
             all
             the
          
           Threatnings
           
             in
             the
             Book
             of
             God
             do
             suppose
          
           this
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           we
           there
           find
           Good
           Men
           ,
           still
           acknowledging
           God's
           Hand
           in
           their
           Afflictions
           .
           Thus
           Upright
           Iob
           ,
           upon
           his
           receiving
           the
           Tydings
           of
           his
           Prodigious
           Losses
           ,
           saith
           ,
           
             The
             Lord
             hath
             given
             ,
             and
             the
             Lord
             hath
             taken
             away
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           Ch.
           1.
           21.
           
           The
           Lord
           hath
           
             taken
             away
          
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           given
           .
           King
           David
           we
           find
           frequently
           making
           such
           Acknowledgments
           .
           And
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           calls
           his
           Sufferings
           ,
           
             The
             Cup
             which
             his
             Father
             had
             given
             him
             to
             drink
             .
          
        
         
           And
           indeed
           the
           Pagans
           had
           generally
           this
           sense
           of
           the
           Evils
           (
           especially
           the
           Greater
           )
           that
           befell
           them
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           of
           their
           Good
           Things
           :
           
           And
           therefore
           they
           had
           their
           Catharmata
           ,
           and
           many
           Expiatory
           Rites
           ,
           for
           the
           Pacifying
           of
           their
           Gods
           ,
           whensoever
           Calamities
           of
           any
           kind
           did
           light
           upon
           them
           .
        
         
           Now
           in
           order
           to
           our
           Understanding
           What
           Hand
           God
           hath
           in
           Evils
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           take
           Notice
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           they
           do
           not
           ordinarily
           proceed
           immediately
           from
           His
           Hand
           :
           Nay
           we
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           believe
           that
           any
           Evils
           ever
           do
           ,
           but
           't
           is
           probable
           that
           those
           do
           proceed
           from
           Invisible
           second
           Causes
           ,
           which
           do
           not
           from
           Visible
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Nor
           is
           it
           necessary
           to
           make
           Evils
           ,
           at
           least
           Ordinarily
           ,
           the
           Effects
           of
           Second
           Causes
           ,
           by
           any
           positive
           Act
           of
           God
           ,
           whereby
           he
           useth
           those
           Causes
           as
           his
           Instruments
           in
           the
           most
           proper
           and
           strict
           sence
           of
           that
           Word
           .
           But
           it
           may
           be
           enough
           to
           say
           ,
           upon
           the
           falling
           out
           of
           Disasters
           ,
           that
           His
           good
           Providence
           did
           not
           interpose
           ,
           in
           preventing
           those
           Evil
           Effects
           being
           produced
           by
           their
           Causes
           .
           Nor
           can
           we
           certainly
           conclude
           ,
           that
           ever
           God
           doth
           any
           more
           than
           withhold
           
           his
           wonted
           Protection
           in
           such
           Cases
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Evils
           may
           be
           truly
           of
           God's
           Appointing
           ,
           tho
           not
           caused
           by
           any
           Positive
           Act
           of
           His.
           And
           whensoever
           His
           Providence
           suffers
           us
           to
           fall
           into
           such
           Circumstances
           ,
           as
           that
           certain
           Evils
           inevitably
           light
           upon
           us
           ,
           and
           no
           Care
           could
           prevent
           them
           ;
           then
           ,
           at
           least
           ,
           we
           may
           look
           upon
           them
           as
           being
           of
           the
           Divine
           Appointment
           ,
           no
           less
           than
           Permission
           .
        
         
           And
           even
           those
           may
           be
           so
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           Effects
           of
           other
           Peoples
           Wickedness
           .
           As
           when
           the
           Pride
           ,
           or
           Covetousness
           ,
           or
           Malice
           of
           another
           makes
           me
           a
           Sufferer
           .
           For
           the
           Opportunities
           and
           Advantages
           which
           a
           wicked
           Man
           may
           at
           any
           time
           have
           against
           me
           ,
           are
           from
           the
           Divine
           Providence
           .
           So
           that
           ,
           tho'
           it
           be
           infinitely
           unworthy
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           infuse
           Evil
           Affections
           ,
           Inclinations
           or
           Dispositions
           into
           any
           man
           ,
           or
           to
           excite
           any
           one
           to
           Sin
           ,
           yet
           He
           knowing
           such
           Affections
           and
           Inclinations
           to
           be
           in
           such
           Persons
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           only
           want
           Objects
           or
           Opportunities
           for
           the
           Acting
           of
           them
           ,
           He
           may
           make
           use
           of
           
           them
           ,
           for
           the
           scourging
           of
           such
           Particular
           Sinners
           ,
           or
           for
           the
           Tryal
           of
           such
           or
           such
           of
           His
           Servants
           .
        
         
           
             We
             have
             an
             Instance
             hereof
             in
          
           Shimei
           '
           s
           Cursing
           King
           
             David
             .
             Upon
          
           Abishai
           '
           
             s
             saying
          
           ,
           Why
           should
           this
           dead
           Dog
           Curse
           my
           Lord
           the
           King
           ?
           Let
           me
           I
           pray
           thee
           go
           over
           ,
           and
           take
           off
           his
           Head
           :
           
             The
             King
             thus
             Reply'd
          
           ,
           Let
           him
           Curse
           ,
           because
           the
           Lord
           hath
           said
           unto
           him
           ,
           Curse
           David
           ;
           who
           shall
           then
           say
           ,
           Wherefore
           hast
           thou
           done
           so
           ?
        
         
           David
           could
           not
           mean
           by
           these
           Words
           ,
           
           that
           God
           had
           laid
           His
           Command
           upon
           that
           Wretch
           to
           Curse
           him
           ;
           This
           would
           have
           been
           to
           make
           him
           no
           Sinner
           herein
           ,
           but
           His
           Obedient
           Servant
           .
           But
           his
           Meaning
           was
           ,
           That
           God
           had
           by
           his
           Providence
           given
           Shimei
           this
           Opportunity
           of
           insulting
           over
           him
           ,
           and
           venting
           his
           Spite
           upon
           him
           .
           And
           therefore
           the
           good
           King
           concluded
           that
           God
           in
           just
           Judgment
           did
           not
           scourge
           him
           with
           the
           Tongue
           of
           Shimei
           ,
           as
           He
           had
           done
           by
           the
           Sword
           of
           his
           Son
           Absalom
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           God
           calls
           the
           
             Assyrian
             ,
             The
             Rod
             of
             his
             Anger
             ,
          
           
           and
           saith
           that
           
           
             He
             will
             send
             him
             against
             an
             Hypocritical
             Nation
             .
          
           And
           by
           this
           Phrase
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           understand
           ,
           God's
           so
           Ordering
           it
           ,
           as
           that
           all
           Difficulties
           and
           Discouragements
           should
           be
           removed
           out
           of
           his
           way
           to
           the
           invading
           of
           the
           Israelites
           ;
           which
           He
           knew
           he
           was
           prepared
           in
           mind
           to
           do
           ,
           as
           soon
           as
           he
           could
           have
           an
           Opportunity
           .
           Nor
           are
           we
           to
           think
           it
           strange
           that
           such
           Words
           ,
           as
           
             Sending
             ,
             Commanding
             ,
             Doing
             ,
             Determining
             ,
          
           and
           many
           other
           like
           them
           ,
           should
           be
           used
           onely
           to
           Express
           ,
           either
           
             removing
             Rubs
             out
             of
             the
             way
             to
             certain
             Evils
             ,
          
           (
           whether
           Natural
           or
           Moral
           )
           or
           
             bare
             Permissions
          
           ;
           since
           these
           ways
           of
           Speaking
           are
           
             Hebrew
             Idioms
          
           ,
           and
           as
           ordinary
           as
           can
           be
           in
           the
           Iewish
           Language
           :
           Of
           which
           there
           are
           innumerable
           Instances
           in
           
             Holy
             Scripture
          
           :
           I
           will
           Name
           one
           more
           ,
           viz.
           that
           in
           Acts
           4.
           28.
           where
           God's
           Hand
           and
           Counsel
           and
           Determination
           are
           said
           to
           be
           in
           the
           Horrible
           Death
           and
           Sufferings
           of
           
             His
             Holy
             Child
             Iesus
          
           .
           But
           't
           is
           as
           evident
           as
           that
           't
           is
           impossible
           for
           God
           to
           be
           the
           
             Author
             of
             Sin
          
           ,
           that
           those
           Phrases
           signifie
           
           no
           more
           than
           His
           Permitting
           ,
           or
           Decreeing
           to
           permit
           those
           Sufferings
           to
           be
           inflicted
           by
           His
           Enemies
           ,
           and
           His
           so
           Ordering
           it
           in
           His
           Wise
           Providence
           ,
           as
           that
           all
           Impediments
           to
           the
           Executing
           of
           their
           Malice
           ,
           should
           be
           removed
           .
        
         
           And
           we
           may
           well
           say
           ,
           that
           God's
           Hand
           is
           in
           the
           Evils
           which
           befal
           Men
           ,
           tho'
           there
           should
           be
           no
           positive
           Act
           of
           His
           Hand
           in
           them
           ,
           since
           the
           Evils
           of
           which
           Iob
           saith
           ,
           
             Shall
             we
             not
             receive
             them
             at
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
             ?
          
           Were
           all
           inflicted
           by
           the
           Hand
           of
           the
           Devil
           ,
           through
           His
           Permission
           .
           All
           his
           Heavy
           Calamities
           were
           the
           Effects
           of
           Satan's
           Malice
           ,
           and
           consequent
           upon
           God's
           not
           restreining
           him
           from
           venting
           it
           as
           he
           did
           .
        
         
           It
           appears
           by
           the
           Story
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           the
           Devil
           who
           stirred
           up
           the
           Sabeans
           and
           others
           to
           Rob
           him
           of
           his
           Cattle
           ,
           and
           to
           destroy
           his
           Servants
           :
           That
           it
           was
           the
           Devil
           that
           brought
           down
           the
           Fire
           on
           the
           remainder
           of
           them
           ,
           altho'
           it
           be
           called
           the
           
             Fire
             of
             God
             from
             Heaven
          
           :
           That
           it
           was
           the
           Devil
           who
           raised
           the
           Storm
           ,
           which
           
           blew
           down
           the
           House
           upon
           his
           Sons
           and
           Daughters
           :
           That
           it
           was
           He
           who
           filled
           his
           Body
           with
           Blains
           &
           Botches
           .
           And
           these
           Terrible
           Evils
           were
           not
           onely
           Permitted
           by
           God
           ,
           but
           Appointed
           too
           ,
           but
           His
           Appointment
           took
           place
           through
           His
           mere
           Permission
           :
           As
           knowing
           that
           Satan
           was
           enough
           his
           Enemy
           ,
           to
           bring
           all
           these
           Calamities
           upon
           him
           ,
           and
           worse
           too
           ,
           if
           He
           would
           but
           suffer
           him
           .
           There
           is
           no
           more
           than
           Permission
           ,
           or
           
             not
             hindering
          
           to
           be
           understood
           in
           that
           Saying
           of
           the
           Divine
           Majesty
           to
           him
           ,
           
             Behold
             all
             that
             he
             hath
             is
             in
             thy
             Power
             ,
          
           &c.
           Chap.
           1.
           12.
           
           Or
           in
           
             that
             ,
             Behold
             he
             is
             in
             thine
             Hand
             ,
          
           &c.
           Chap.
           2.
           6.
           
           Not
           that
           God
           gave
           him
           a
           Commission
           ,
           or
           so
           much
           as
           Leave
           (
           or
           Licence
           )
           thus
           to
           Torment
           the
           Upright
           Man
           ;
           He
           onely
           withdrew
           the
           Restreints
           he
           was
           before
           under
           ,
           from
           thus
           Worrying
           him
           .
           This
           is
           evident
           from
           the
           Account
           which
           the
           Devil
           himself
           gives
           of
           his
           having
           hitherto
           spared
           him
           ,
           Chap.
           1.
           10.
           
           
             Hast
             thou
             not
          
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             made
             an
             Hedge
             about
             him
             ,
             and
             about
             his
             house
             ,
             and
             about
             all
             that
             he
             hath
             on
             
             every
             side
             ?
          
           And
           whereas
           he
           saith
           in
           the
           next
           Verse
           ,
           
             But
             put
             forth
             thine
             Hand
             now
             ,
             and
             touch
             all
             that
             he
             hath
             ,
             and
             he
             will
             Curse
             thee
             to
             thy
             Face
             :
          
           It
           is
           plain
           ,
           he
           meant
           no
           more
           by
           these
           Words
           ,
           but
           
             Cease
             to
             protect
             him
             from
             my
             hand
             :
          
           And
           in
           so
           Expressing
           this
           his
           Meaning
           ,
           he
           complyed
           with
           the
           fore-mentioned
           
             Hebrew
             Idiom
          
           ,
           or
           
             Manner
             of
             Speaking
          
           .
        
         
           Before
           we
           proceed
           further
           ,
           Let
           us
           stop
           a
           while
           to
           take
           Notice
           ,
           how
           infinitely
           we
           are
           obliged
           to
           the
           Divine
           Protection
           ;
           in
           that
           we
           find
           not
           our
           present
           State
           ,
           far
           more
           Sad
           and
           Calamitous
           than
           it
           is
           .
           Many
           Afflictions
           we
           meet
           with
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           very
           Heavy
           ones
           :
           But
           for
           One
           Exercise
           of
           our
           Patience
           ,
           we
           should
           have
           a
           Thousand
           ,
           and
           those
           much
           more
           intolerable
           than
           we
           have
           ever
           yet
           felt
           ,
           did
           not
           the
           good
           Providence
           of
           God
           continually
           guard
           us
           ;
           were
           not
           
             The
             Lord
             of
             Hosts
             with
             us
          
           ;
           were
           not
           
             The
             God
             of
             Iacob
             our
             Defence
             and
             Refuge
             :
          
           There
           are
           not
           a
           few
           things
           in
           all
           places
           ,
           which
           would
           be
           both
           Mischievous
           
           and
           Destructive
           to
           us
           ,
           but
           for
           the
           Care
           which
           God
           Almighty
           takes
           of
           us
           ,
           by
           the
           Ministry
           of
           His
           Angels
           ,
           and
           very
           many
           other
           invisible
           Ways
           ▪
           We
           know
           ,
           both
           by
           Observation
           and
           Experience
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Creature
           so
           inconsiderable
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           be
           able
           to
           make
           us
           Miserable
           ,
           with
           the
           Divine
           Permission
           ,
           or
           to
           put
           a
           Period
           to
           our
           Lives
           .
           And
           therefore
           that
           was
           a
           good
           Reply
           ,
           which
           Theodorus
           made
           to
           Lysimachus
           ,
           when
           he
           threatned
           to
           
             Kill
             him
          
           ,
           viz.
           
             What
             a
             mighty
             Matter
             is
             that
             ,
             the
             most
             contemptible
             things
             is
             as
             able
             to
             do
             this
             as
             thy self
             .
          
           The
           ill
           Accidents
           to
           which
           we
           are
           dayly
           liable
           ,
           are
           innumerable
           ;
           and
           so
           are
           the
           Natural
           Causes
           ,
           both
           without
           us
           and
           within
           us
           ,
           of
           a
           great
           Number
           of
           Diseases
           ;
           so
           that
           if
           they
           were
           not
           over-ruled
           by
           Providence
           (
           and
           that
           by
           such
           secret
           Means
           as
           make
           it
           impossible
           for
           us
           to
           understand
           how
           )
           we
           could
           never
           have
           one
           hours
           freedom
           from
           Sickness
           ,
           or
           Pain
           ;
           and
           should
           be
           always
           running
           into
           Mischief
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           the
           Devils
           were
           our
           onely
           Enemies
           ,
           
           who
           are
           still
           watching
           all
           Advantages
           against
           both
           our
           Souls
           and
           Bodies
           ,
           were
           it
           not
           for
           the
           Divine
           Protection
           ,
           the
           Case
           of
           both
           would
           be
           most
           deplorable
           .
           St.
           Peter
           compares
           the
           Head
           of
           them
           to
           
             A
             Roaring
             Lyon
          
           ,
           and
           saith
           ,
           that
           
             he
             walketh
             about
             seeking
             whom
             he
             may
             devour
             .
          
           Of
           these
           malignant
           Spirits
           ,
           and
           their
           Malevolence
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           the
           Pagans
           had
           an
           Undoubted
           Tradition
           ,
           &
           the
           poor
           Americans
           especially
           need
           no
           such
           Tradition
           ,
           to
           whom
           ,
           to
           this
           day
           ,
           they
           make
           themselves
           Visible
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           feel
           sad
           Effects
           of
           their
           Malice
           .
           And
           we
           find
           enough
           in
           the
           History
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           to
           incline
           us
           to
           think
           it
           very
           probable
           ,
           that
           many
           of
           the
           Diseases
           ,
           and
           other
           Evils
           which
           happen
           to
           us
           ,
           are
           of
           their
           Procurement
           .
           And
           there
           needs
           no
           more
           ,
           but
           God's
           saying
           to
           any
           one
           of
           them
           ,
           concerning
           any
           of
           us
           ,
           what
           he
           said
           of
           
             Iob
             ,
             Behold
             they
             are
             in
             thine
             hand
             ,
          
           to
           make
           this
           Life
           a
           very
           hell
           to
           us
           .
        
         
           I
           say
           therefore
           ,
           how
           unspeakably
           are
           we
           obliged
           to
           our
           Good
           God
           ,
           for
           protecting
           us
           ,
           as
           He
           doth
           ,
           with
           His
           
           Watchful
           Eye
           ,
           and
           Almighty
           Arm
           !
           We
           have
           seen
           that
           He
           needs
           not
           do
           any
           thing
           ,
           nor
           Exert
           His
           Power
           in
           any
           one
           Act
           ,
           to
           make
           our
           Being
           in
           this
           World
           most
           miserable
           .
           He
           needs
           ,
           in
           Order
           thereto
           ,
           onely
           not
           to
           continue
           His
           Care
           of
           us
           ;
           which
           the
           Bad
           as
           well
           as
           Good
           ,
           and
           those
           who
           provoke
           Him
           every
           day
           ,
           such
           is
           His
           Goodness
           and
           Long-suffering
           ,
           are
           every
           Moment
           protected
           by
           ;
           though
           not
           alike
           protected
           ;
           nor
           the
           same
           Persons
           alwaies
           alike
           .
           And
           how
           fearful
           should
           we
           be
           of
           disobliging
           such
           a
           Friend
           ,
           lest
           we
           at
           length
           provoke
           Him
           to
           pluck
           up
           His
           Hedge
           of
           Protection
           !
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           We
           come
           next
           to
           shew
           ,
           
             What
             is
             meant
             by
          
           Receiving
           Evil
           
             at
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
          
           ;
           which
           
           Iob's
           Question
           here
           speaks
           to
           be
           a
           most
           necessary
           Duty
           .
           —
           
             Shall
             we
             not
             receive
             Evil
          
           ?
           This
           implyeth
           these
           Four
           Things
           .
        
         
           
             1.
             
             Heartily
             Acknowledging
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
             ,
             to
             be
             in
             the
             Evils
             that
             befal
             us
             .
          
           
             
             2.
             
             Submitting
             Patiently
             to
             His
             Will
             under
             them
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             Doing
             this
             also
             ,
             Thankfully
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             Complying
             with
             God
             '
             s
             Great
             End
             and
             Design
             ,
             in
             them
             .
          
        
         
           First
           ,
           
             Heartily
             Acknowledging
             the
             Hand
             ,
             or
             Providence
             of
             God
             ,
             to
             be
             in
             the
             Evils
             which
             befal
             us
             .
          
           Since
           God's
           Hand
           is
           ,
           as
           hath
           been
           shewed
           ,
           in
           them
           ,
           we
           must
           needs
           be
           obliged
           to
           receive
           them
           as
           from
           Him
           ;
           and
           with
           a
           great
           sense
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           that
           Saying
           of
           
             Eliphaz
             ,
             Affliction
             cometh
             not
             forth
             of
             the
             Dust
             ,
             neither
             doth
             Trouble
             spring
             out
             of
             the
             Ground
             :
          
           Or
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           ascribed
           merely
           to
           Earthly
           or
           Natural
           Causes
           .
           And
           therefore
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           observed
           ,
           we
           find
           Pious
           Men
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           still
           owning
           God's
           Providence
           in
           their
           Afflictions
           .
        
         
           Those
           consequently
           ,
           who
           look
           no
           farther
           than
           the
           immediate
           Causes
           of
           them
           ,
           or
           who
           look
           not
           beyond
           those
           which
           are
           Visible
           ,
           cannot
           behave
           themselves
           like
           Religious
           Men
           under
           them
           ,
           nor
           scarely
           like
           Men
           :
           But
           do
           too
           often
           resemble
           those
           silly
           Currs
           ,
           that
           fly
           furiously
           upon
           the
           Stones
           
           which
           are
           flung
           at
           them
           ,
           taking
           no
           Notice
           of
           the
           Hand
           from
           whence
           they
           come
           .
        
         
           Those
           must
           either
           not
           believe
           that
           God
           takes
           care
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           deny
           that
           there
           is
           any
           such
           thing
           as
           Providence
           ,
           (
           which
           is
           as
           bad
           as
           slat
           Atheism
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           ever
           separated
           from
           it
           )
           who
           ,
           when
           ,
           for
           instance
           ,
           they
           are
           visited
           with
           Sickness
           ,
           think
           of
           no
           higher
           Cause
           thereof
           ,
           than
           the
           noxious
           quality
           or
           quantity
           of
           what
           they
           have
           eaten
           or
           drank
           ,
           or
           infectious
           Steams
           ,
           or
           bad
           Air
           ,
           or
           the
           like
           ;
           and
           never
           consider
           ,
           that
           none
           of
           these
           things
           could
           hurt
           them
           ,
           had
           not
           God
           seen
           it
           good
           ,
           not
           to
           keep
           them
           by
           some
           Providence
           or
           other
           out
           of
           Harms
           way
           ,
           or
           not
           to
           Over-rule
           such
           Causes
           .
           And
           the
           like
           may
           be
           said
           of
           those
           ,
           who
           ,
           upon
           the
           Death
           of
           a
           dear
           Relative
           or
           Friend
           ,
           are
           aware
           of
           no
           other
           Cause
           thereof
           ,
           than
           the
           Nature
           of
           the
           Disease
           ,
           or
           the
           Weakness
           of
           the
           Means
           which
           were
           used
           for
           the
           Cure
           thereof
           ,
           or
           some
           ill
           Accident
           ,
           &c.
           and
           it
           never
           enters
           into
           their
           thoughts
           ,
           that
           this
           Person
           would
           have
           Recovered
           ,
           had
           God
           seen
           
           it
           fit
           to
           prolong
           his
           or
           her
           Life
           :
           Which
           if
           He
           had
           ,
           more
           effectual
           Medicines
           would
           have
           been
           applyed
           ,
           or
           Success
           given
           to
           more
           ineffectual
           :
           Or
           ,
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           God
           would
           then
           have
           raised
           up
           the
           Patient
           by
           some
           Means
           or
           other
           ,
           innumerable
           of
           which
           He
           hath
           at
           His
           Command
           ;
           or
           have
           done
           it
           ,
           if
           He
           had
           pleased
           ,
           without
           Means
           .
        
         
           He
           who
           suffers
           from
           the
           Hand
           of
           Malice
           ,
           doth
           not
           suffer
           like
           a
           Pious
           Man
           ,
           who
           looks
           not
           upon
           His
           Enemy
           as
           God's
           Rod
           ;
           who
           considers
           not
           ,
           that
           as
           much
           
             ill
             Will
          
           as
           he
           hath
           ,
           he
           
             could
             have
             no
             Power
             against
             him
             ,
             except
             it
             were
             given
             him
             from
             Above
          
           ;
           as
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           said
           to
           Pilate
           .
           And
           so
           we
           might
           proceed
           in
           other
           Instances
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           
             Receiving
             Evils
             at
             God's
             Hand
             implyeth
             also
             ,
          
           Submiting
           patiently
           and
           quietly
           to
           His
           Will
           under
           them
           .
           
             Patient
             submission
             under
             Afflictions
             is
             expressed
             by
          
           Accepting
           them
           ,
           
             which
             is
             the
             same
             with
          
           Receiving
           them
           .
           If
           their
           Vncircumcised
           Heart
           be
           humbled
           ,
           and
           they
           Accept
           of
           
           the
           Punishment
           of
           their
           Iniquity
           ,
           
             &c.
             
             Lev.
          
           26.
           41.
           
           And
           they
           shall
           Accept
           of
           the
           Punishment
           of
           their
           Iniquity
           ,
           v.
           43.
           
        
         
           We
           had
           as
           good
           ,
           not
           to
           Acknowledge
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           in
           our
           Afflictions
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           submit
           to
           His
           Hand
           .
           Nay
           ,
           in
           this
           respect
           it
           is
           worse
           ,
           to
           Murmur
           and
           Repine
           at
           them
           ,
           while
           we
           acknowledge
           a
           Divine
           Providence
           in
           them
           ,
           than
           to
           have
           no
           belief
           hereof
           ,
           viz.
           That
           Repining
           at
           any
           thing
           which
           we
           believe
           God
           hath
           an
           Hand
           in
           ,
           is
           
             Charging
             Him
             foolishly
          
           .
           'T
           is
           at
           least
           ,
           a
           Tacit
           and
           Virtual
           Accusing
           God
           Almighty
           of
           Injustice
           ,
           or
           Unkindness
           ,
           or
           want
           of
           Wisdom
           .
        
         
           Impatience
           under
           God's
           Hand
           must
           necessarily
           proceed
           from
           some
           false
           and
           unworthy
           Notion
           of
           Him
           ;
           nor
           can
           we
           grudge
           at
           any
           Dispensation
           of
           His
           Providence
           ,
           while
           we
           have
           a
           Sense
           of
           this
           ,
           That
           God
           can
           do
           nothing
           ,
           but
           what
           is
           most
           fit
           to
           be
           done
           .
           Now
           it
           is
           nothing
           so
           great
           a
           Reflexion
           upon
           the
           Divine
           Honour
           ,
           to
           deny
           that
           God
           concerneth
           Himself
           in
           our
           Sufferings
           ,
           as
           ,
           acknowledging
           it
           ,
           to
           think
           that
           He
           can
           do
           what
           is
           Vnworthy
           of
           
           Himself
           ,
           and
           can
           be
           Cruel
           or
           Unrighteous
           in
           any
           of
           them
           :
           Or
           can
           at
           any
           time
           Act
           unlike
           to
           an
           Absolutely
           Perfect
           Being
           .
           Nay
           Plutarch
           would
           tell
           us
           ,
           that
           it
           casts
           less
           Dishonour
           upon
           God
           ,
           to
           deny
           His
           very
           Being
           ,
           than
           to
           conceive
           such
           a
           thing
           as
           this
           of
           Him
           :
           For
           He
           saith
           ,
           
             That
             he
             had
             rather
             the
             World
             should
             hereafter
             say
             there
             was
             never
             such
             a
             Man
             as
          
           Plutarch
           ,
           
             than
             that
          
           Plutarch
           
             was
             an
             Vnjust
             and
             Naughty
             Man.
          
           And
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           every
           Good
           Man
           will
           be
           of
           his
           Mind
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Duty
           more
           reasonable
           ,
           and
           therefore
           more
           indispensable
           ,
           than
           
             quiet
             Submission
          
           under
           the
           Severest
           of
           Providences
           ;
           which
           doth
           always
           imply
           a
           Sense
           of
           their
           being
           Good
           ,
           as
           Severe
           as
           they
           may
           seem
           to
           be
           ;
           and
           no
           less
           Good
           really
           ,
           than
           they
           are
           Severe
           seemingly
           and
           in
           appearance
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           ,
           where
           as
           we
           have
           observed
           ,
           that
           we
           still
           find
           good
           men
           Acknowledging
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           in
           their
           Sufferings
           ,
           so
           we
           have
           them
           as
           constantly
           expressing
           their
           Submission
           thereto
           .
        
         
         
           Iob
           was
           a
           most
           Admirable
           Example
           of
           Patience
           ,
           considering
           what
           a
           prodigious
           Sufferer
           he
           was
           ;
           tho'
           in
           the
           last
           of
           his
           terrible
           Tryals
           ,
           he
           discovered
           too
           much
           weakness
           .
        
         
           Old
           Ely
           ,
           when
           the
           Prophet
           Samuel
           had
           told
           him
           the
           Dreadful
           Things
           ,
           which
           God
           had
           threatned
           against
           his
           House
           ,
           immediately
           expressed
           his
           Submission
           in
           these
           Words
           ,
           
             It
             is
             the
             Lord
             ,
             let
             Him
             do
             what
             seemeth
             Him
             good
             ,
          
           1
           Sam.
           3.
           18.
           
        
         
           King
           David
           
             under
             a
             very
             sore
             Affliction
             ,
             which
             he
             called
             the
          
           Stroke
           
             and
             the
          
           Blow
           of
           God
           '
           s
           Hand
           ,
           
             thus
             expressed
          
           his
           Submission
           ;
           I
           was
           dumb
           ,
           I
           opened
           not
           my
           Mouth
           ,
           because
           Thou
           didst
           it
           ,
           
             Psal.
             39.
             9.
             
             And
             there
             is
             another
             very
             Remarkable
             and
             Affecting
             Instance
             given
             by
             him
             hereof
             ,
             when
             he
             was
             not
             onely
             forced
             to
             flee
             from
          
           Ierusalem
           ,
           
             but
             in
             Eminent
             Danger
             of
             losing
             his
             Kingdom
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             the
             Powerful
             Conspiracy
             of
             His
             own
          
           Son
           
             against
             Him.
          
           If
           ,
           saith
           He
           ,
           I
           shall
           find
           favour
           in
           the
           eyes
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           He
           will
           bring
           me
           again
           ,
           and
           shew
           me
           both
           the
           Ark
           of
           God
           and
           his
           Habitation
           :
           But
           
           if
           He
           thus
           saith
           ,
           I
           have
           no
           Delight
           in
           thee
           ,
           Behold
           here
           am
           I
           ,
           let
           Him
           do
           what
           seemeth
           good
           unto
           Him
           ,
           2.
           
           Sam.
           15.
           25
           ,
           26.
           
        
         
           
             But
             as
             ,
             all
             things
             considered
             ,
             never
             was
             there
             such
             a
             Sufferer
             as
             our
             Blessed
          
           Lord
           ,
           
             so
             never
             was
             there
             a
             Pattern
             of
          
           Patience
           and
           Submission
           ,
           
             comparable
             to
             that
             which
          
           He
           
             hath
             set
             us
             .
             Never
             were
             worse
             Words
             heard
             from
             Him
             ,
             than
             such
             as
          
           these
           :
           If
           this
           Cup
           may
           not
           pass
           from
           me
           ,
           except
           I
           drink
           it
           ,
           Thy
           Will
           be
           done
           .
           Not
           my
           Will
           ,
           but
           Thy
           Will
           be
           done
           .
           The
           Cup
           which
           my
           Father
           hath
           given
           me
           to
           drink
           ,
           shall
           I
           not
           drink
           it
           ?
           
             And
             His
             Example
             is
             again
             and
             again
             proposed
             to
             us
             ,
             as
             a
             great
             Motive
             to
          
           Patience
           ,
           
             and
             the
             resigning
             of
             our selves
             to
             the
             Divine
             Will
             under
             all
             Afflicting
             Providences
             ,
          
           Let
           us
           ,
           
             saith
             the
             Author
             to
             the
          
           Hebrews
           ,
           run
           the
           Race
           that
           is
           set
           before
           us
           with
           Patience
           ,
           looking
           unto
           Iesus
           the
           Author
           and
           Finisher
           of
           our
           Faith
           ;
           who
           ,
           for
           the
           joy
           that
           was
           set
           before
           Him
           ,
           endured
           the
           Cross
           ,
           despising
           the
           Shame
           ,
           
             &c.
             Chap.
          
           12.
           1
           ,
           2.
           
           For
           consider
           Him
           ,
           who
           endured
           such
           
           contradiction
           of
           Sinners
           against
           Himself
           ,
           lest
           ye
           be
           wearyed
           and
           faint
           in
           your
           Minds
           ,
           ver
           .
           3.
           
           And
           for
           as
           much
           ,
           
             saith
             the
             Apostle
             St.
          
           Peter
           ,
           as
           Christ
           hath
           suffered
           for
           us
           in
           the
           Flesh
           ,
           Arm
           your selves
           also
           with
           the
           same
           Mind
           ,
           1
           Epist.
           4.
           1.
           
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           In
           Receiving
           Evil
           at
           Gods
           Hand
           ,
           
             is
             likewise
             implyed
          
           Thankful
           ,
           
             as
             well
             as
             Patient
          
           Submission
           .
           
             It
             is
             evident
             ,
             that
          
           Iob
           intended
           this
           
             too
             ,
             in
             saying
          
           ,
           Shall
           we
           not
           receive
           Evil
           ?
           
             Seeing
             his
          
           Wifes
           
             upbraiding
             him
             with
             his
          
           Blessing
           God
           
             in
             these
             words
          
           ,
           The
           Lord
           gave
           ,
           and
           the
           Lord
           hath
           taken
           away
           ,
           and
           blessed
           be
           the
           Name
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           
             did
             occasion
             that
             Reply
             to
             her
             .
          
        
         
           Nor
           are
           we
           to
           think
           ,
           that
           
             this
             his
             Blessing
             of
             God
          
           ,
           upon
           his
           receiving
           such
           Woful
           Tydings
           ,
           was
           more
           than
           his
           Duty
           ;
           as
           greatly
           honoured
           as
           he
           hath
           most
           deservedly
           been
           in
           all
           Ages
           for
           it
           :
           For
           't
           is
           as
           highly
           Reasonable
           ,
           that
           We
           should
           receive
           Evils
           thankfully
           ,
           as
           that
           we
           should
           be
           Submissive
           under
           them
           ;
           tho'
           it
           is
           more
           difficult
           .
        
         
           Not
           that
           an
           Affliction
           as
           such
           is
           
           matter
           of
           Thankfulness
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           so
           ,
           Considered
           as
           designed
           by
           God
           for
           our
           Good
           ,
           our
           greatest
           Good
           ;
           as
           will
           hereafter
           be
           shewed
           .
        
         
           Good
           People
           find
           it
           a
           very
           Easie
           thing
           ,
           to
           thank
           God
           heartily
           for
           Afflictions
           after
           the
           Smart
           of
           them
           is
           over
           ,
           upon
           their
           Experimenting
           Advantage
           to
           their
           Souls
           by
           them
           :
           But
           there
           is
           the
           same
           Reason
           to
           Thank
           God
           for
           His
           designing
           us
           Good
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           for
           our
           
             actual
             receiving
          
           it
           .
           I
           have
           every
           whit
           as
           much
           reason
           ,
           when
           I
           am
           Sick
           or
           in
           Pain
           ,
           or
           when
           I
           see
           one
           so
           who
           is
           dear
           to
           me
           ,
           or
           when
           I
           have
           lost
           such
           a
           one
           ;
           to
           Praise
           God
           for
           intending
           such
           Sufferings
           for
           my
           Spiritual
           Advantage
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           so
           to
           do
           ,
           after
           I
           have
           found
           this
           Advantage
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           No
           Man
           can
           doubt
           ,
           but
           that
           Iob
           was
           Obliged
           to
           be
           Thankful
           for
           his
           Afflictions
           (
           as
           Heavy
           as
           they
           were
           )
           after
           he
           was
           raised
           to
           much
           more
           Plentiful
           and
           Happy
           Circumstances
           by
           the
           means
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           therefore
           it
           is
           Evident
           that
           it
           became
           him
           so
           to
           be
           ,
           while
           he
           continued
           under
           the
           weight
           
           of
           them
           .
           Because
           the
           Notion
           he
           had
           of
           God
           assured
           him
           ,
           that
           he
           Meant
           great
           good
           to
           him
           by
           them
           ;
           Possibly
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           but
           Certainly
           in
           that
           to
           come
           ;
           which
           is
           far
           better
           .
        
         
           All
           Afflictions
           as
           such
           are
           Evils
           ,
           as
           Iob
           calls
           them
           ,
           and
           therefore
           it
           would
           be
           Harsh
           Doctrine
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           we
           ought
           to
           Bless
           God
           for
           them
           Considered
           under
           that
           Notion
           ;
           but
           it
           Sounds
           no
           more
           Harshly
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           bound
           to
           be
           heartily
           Thankful
           for
           them
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           Means
           of
           Grace
           ,
           and
           Divine
           Methods
           for
           the
           more
           and
           more
           qualifying
           us
           for
           the
           Heavenly
           Happiness
           ,
           than
           it
           doth
           to
           tell
           me
           ,
           That
           my
           Surgeon
           deserves
           not
           only
           Thanks
           but
           a
           Reward
           too
           ,
           for
           the
           Torment
           he
           gives
           me
           ,
           as
           that
           Torment
           is
           designed
           in
           order
           to
           my
           Cure.
           
        
         
           Considering
           Afflictions
           under
           the
           notion
           of
           Medicines
           for
           the
           Curing
           of
           our
           Spiritual
           Maladies
           ,
           or
           as
           Tryals
           for
           the
           Exercise
           of
           our
           Graces
           ,
           they
           are
           not
           onely
           Good
           ,
           but
           some
           of
           the
           Best
           things
           ;
           but
           I
           shall
           not
           need
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           all
           Good
           things
           are
           
           matter
           of
           Thanksgiving
           ;
           nor
           that
           our
           Thankfulness
           for
           them
           ought
           to
           be
           proportioned
           to
           the
           degrees
           of
           Goodness
           that
           are
           in
           them
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           
             It
             is
             implyed
             too
             in
          
           Receiving
           Evils
           at
           Gods
           Hand
           ;
           
             that
             we
          
           Chearfully
           Comply
           with
           Gods
           Ends
           and
           Designs
           in
           inflicting
           them
           .
        
         
           We
           now
           intimated
           that
           they
           are
           designed
           for
           Good
           to
           us
           ,
           but
           the
           Concurrence
           of
           our
           Endeavours
           with
           the
           Divine
           Grace
           ,
           is
           absolutely
           necessary
           to
           the
           accomplishing
           of
           Gods
           good
           Designs
           upon
           us
           .
           No
           Means
           of
           Grace
           can
           signify
           any
           good
           to
           us
           ,
           without
           our
           making
           use
           of
           them
           as
           Such
           .
        
         
           We
           said
           
             but
             now
          
           ,
           That
           Patient
           Submission
           is
           Expressed
           by
           
             Accepting
             the
             Punishment
             of
             our
             iniquities
          
           ;
           and
           now
           we
           add
           that
           Compliance
           also
           with
           the
           Ends
           thereof
           ,
           the
           Chief
           of
           which
           is
           our
           Reformation
           ,
           was
           intended
           by
           that
           Form
           of
           speech
           .
           Nor
           can
           we
           be
           properly
           said
           to
           Receive
           Evil
           from
           God
           ,
           or
           to
           Accept
           thereof
           ,
           if
           we
           are
           meerly
           Passive
           under
           it
           ;
           or
           at
           least
           we
           then
           
             receive
             it
             in
             vain
          
           ,
           as
           the
           Apostle
           
           beseecheth
           us
           not
           so
           
             to
             receive
             the
             Grace
             of
             God.
             
          
        
         
           Not
           to
           improve
           Afflictions
           to
           our
           Spiritual
           Advantage
           ,
           seeing
           this
           is
           the
           Design
           of
           them
           ,
           is
           to
           despise
           them
           ;
           which
           Eliphaz
           warned
           Iob
           against
           .
           
             Happy
             is
             the
             man
          
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             whom
             God
             Correcteth
             ,
             therefore
             despise
             not
             thou
             the
             Chastening
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             Iob
          
           5.
           17.
           
           Which
           is
           as
           much
           as
           if
           he
           had
           said
           ,
           Seeing
           God
           doth
           mean
           the
           greatest
           Good
           to
           Men
           in
           Correcting
           them
           ,
           be
           sure
           thou
           so
           improve
           this
           His
           Severe
           Correction
           ;
           as
           not
           to
           frustrate
           His
           End
           therein
           .
           And
           Excellent
           was
           that
           Advice
           which
           Elihu
           gave
           him
           ,
           Ch.
           34.
           31
           ,
           32.
           
           
             Surely
             it
             is
             meet
             to
             be
             said
             unto
             God
             I
             have
             born
             Chastisement
             ,
             I
             will
             not
             offend
             any
             more
             ;
             That
             which
             I
             see
             not
             teach
             Thou
             me
             ;
             if
             I
             have
             done
             iniquity
             ,
             I
             will
             do
             no
             more
             .
          
        
         
           Some
           may
           think
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           omitted
           one
           Great
           thing
           ,
           in
           Shewing
           what
           is
           implyed
           in
           
             Receiving
             Evils
             at
             Gods
          
           Hand
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           Rejoycing
           and
           Glorying
           in
           them
           ;
           which
           is
           more
           than
           being
           Thankful
           :
           For
           there
           are
           
           several
           Texts
           in
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ,
           which
           speak
           this
           likewise
           to
           be
           a
           Duty
           .
           As
           particularly
           St.
           Iames
           saith
           ,
           Ch.
           1.
           2.
           
           
             Count
             it
             all
             Ioy
             ,
             when
             you
             fall
             into
             diverse
             Temptations
             ,
          
           or
           Tryals
           .
           St.
           Paul
           saith
           ,
           
             We
             Glory
             in
             Tribulations
          
           ,
           Rom.
           5.
           3.
           
           And
           
             I
             will
             rather
             Glory
             in
             mine
             Infirmities
             ,
          
           2
           Cor.
           12.
           9.
           
           And
           other
           passages
           there
           are
           to
           the
           same
           purpose
           .
        
         
           But
           in
           Answer
           hereunto
           ,
           such
           Expressions
           doubtless
           have
           not
           reference
           to
           those
           Afflictions
           ,
           which
           God
           layeth
           upon
           us
           in
           the
           Ordinary
           Course
           of
           His
           Providence
           ,
           but
           to
           those
           particularly
           which
           Christians
           meet
           with
           ,
           for
           the
           Testimony
           of
           a
           good
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           for
           Righteousness
           Sake
           ;
           which
           were
           the
           Chief
           sufferings
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           the
           Primitive
           Christians
           .
           And
           the
           Apostle
           doth
           plainly
           intimate
           ,
           in
           the
           words
           next
           following
           those
           I
           last
           cited
           ,
           that
           this
           sort
           of
           Afflictions
           were
           those
           he
           there
           meant
           ,
           
             viz.
             Therefore
             I
             take
             Pleasure
             in
             Infirmities
             ,
             in
             Reproaches
             ,
             in
             Necessities
             ,
             in
             Persecutions
             ,
             in
             Distresses
             ,
             for
             Christ's
             Sake
             .
          
           Or
           in
           Suffering
           all
           these
           for
           
             Christ's
             Sake
          
           .
        
         
         
           
             And
             those
             words
             of
             our
          
           Saviour
           
             may
             well
             lead
             us
          
           ,
           thus
           
             to
             understand
             the
             forementioned
             and
             the
             like
             Texts
             ,
          
           viz.
           Blessed
           are
           ye
           ,
           when
           Men
           shall
           hate
           you
           ,
           and
           when
           they
           shall
           Separate
           you
           from
           their
           Company
           ,
           and
           shall
           Reproach
           you
           ,
           and
           Cast
           out
           your
           Name
           as
           Evil
           ,
           for
           the
           Son
           of
           Man's
           Sake
           .
           Rejoyce
           ye
           in
           that
           day
           and
           Leap
           for
           joy
           :
           For
           behold
           your
           Reward
           is
           great
           in
           Heaven
           ;
           For
           in
           the
           like
           manner
           did
           their
           Fathers
           unto
           the
           Prophets
           .
           
             Luke
             6.
             22
             ,
             23.
             
             And
             there
             are
          
           three
           
             Special
             Reasons
             ,
             why
             Afflictions
             that
             are
             Suffered
             upon
          
           this
           
             account
             ,
             should
             be
             Rejoyced
             and
             Gloried
             in
             .
             Namely
             ,
          
        
         
           1.
           
           Because
           infinite
           Honour
           is
           done
           us
           ,
           when
           we
           are
           called
           forth
           to
           Suffer
           for
           the
           Sake
           of
           Christ.
           Wherefore
           it
           is
           said
           ,
           Acts
           5.
           41.
           
           That
           
             The
             Apostles
             departed
             from
             the
             presence
             of
             the
             Council
             ,
             Rejoycing
             that
             they
             were
             accounted
             worthy
             to
             Suffer
             for
             His
             Name
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           Because
           such
           Sufferings
           have
           the
           most
           Glorious
           Reward
           Promised
           to
           them
           .
           Which
           you
           now
           saw
           is
           the
           
           Reason
           ,
           which
           our
           Saviour
           gives
           ,
           why
           such
           Sufferers
           should
           
             Leap
             for
             joy
          
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Because
           a
           Great
           Reward
           doth
           likewise
           accompany
           Such
           Sufferings
           ,
           viz.
           A
           mighty
           Presence
           of
           Gods
           Spirit
           ,
           whereby
           the
           Sufferers
           are
           
             Strengthned
             with
             Might
             in
             their
             inward
             Man.
          
           And
           this
           was
           the
           Reason
           the
           Apostle
           gave
           ,
           why
           he
           
             would
             most
             gladly
             Glory
             in
             his
             Infirmities
          
           ;
           for
           it
           follows
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Power
             of
             Christ
             may
             rest
             upon
             me
             :
          
           And
           why
           
             he
             took
             Pleasure
             in
             Reproaches
             ,
             in
             Necessities
             ,
             in
             Persecutions
             ,
             in
             Distresses
             for
             Christs
             Sake
             ,
          
           viz.
           Because
           ,
           
             When
             I
             am
             Weak
             then
             am
             I
             Strong
             .
          
           Or
           then
           do
           I
           find
           Great
           Strength
           from
           Above
           ,
           when
           my
           Sufferings
           do
           most
           Exceed
           my
           natural
           Strength
           .
           Again
           ,
           St.
           Peter
           saith
           ,
           
             If
             ye
             be
             Reproached
             for
             the
             Name
             of
             Christ
             ,
             happy
             are
             ye
             ;
             for
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Glory
             ,
             and
             of
             God
             ,
             resteth
             upon
             you
             .
          
           So
           that
           Glorying
           in
           Tribulations
           ,
           in
           such
           Tribulations
           ,
           is
           ,
           if
           we
           make
           Comparisons
           ,
           rather
           a
           Privilege
           than
           a
           Duty
           .
        
         
           As
           it
           is
           a
           very
           dangerous
           thing
           ,
           
           to
           make
           Christianity
           an
           Easier
           Religion
           than
           Christ
           hath
           made
           it
           ,
           so
           is
           it
           to
           make
           it
           a
           Harder
           too
           :
           For
           this
           tends
           greatly
           to
           the
           Discourageing
           of
           men
           ,
           and
           the
           frighting
           them
           away
           from
           it
           .
           But
           nothing
           could
           more
           incline
           us
           to
           think
           it
           an
           impractical
           Religion
           ,
           than
           to
           be
           told
           that
           one
           of
           its
           Precepts
           is
           ,
           That
           we
           must
           Rejoyce
           ,
           Triumph
           and
           Glory
           under
           whatsoever
           Afflictions
           we
           are
           Exercised
           with
           .
           So
           that
           ,
           when
           I
           am
           Tormented
           with
           a
           Disease
           ,
           when
           I
           have
           lost
           a
           most
           dear
           Relative
           or
           Friend
           ,
           or
           see
           such
           a
           one
           in
           Misery
           ;
           When
           a
           Great
           
             Publick
             Blessing
          
           (
           such
           a
           one
           as
           That
           which
           we
           are
           now
           Lamenting
           )
           is
           taken
           away
           from
           us
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           Enough
           to
           submit
           quietly
           to
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           ,
           nor
           to
           Thank
           Him
           for
           His
           good
           and
           gracious
           Designs
           in
           such
           fore
           Tryals
           ,
           towards
           those
           who
           shall
           duly
           improve
           them
           ,
           but
           I
           must
           also
           Rejoyce
           and
           Glory
           in
           them
           ;
           or
           I
           cannot
           Suffer
           like
           a
           Christian
           :
           This
           in
           Truth
           is
           much
           too
           Severe
           Doctrin
           .
           We
           must
           needs
           say
           of
           it
           ,
           what
           the
           Disciples
           said
           
           in
           another
           Case
           ,
           
             This
             is
             an
             hard
             saying
             ,
             who
             can
             hear
             it
             ?
          
           If
           this
           were
           One
           of
           the
           Duties
           (
           as
           it
           is
           not
           )
           to
           which
           Christianity
           does
           oblige
           us
           ,
           we
           could
           not
           affirm
           that
           there
           is
           no
           ground
           for
           this
           saying
           of
           Trypho
           the
           Iew
           to
           
             Iustin
             Martyr
          
           ,
           viz.
           
             Those
             Precepts
             of
             yours
             ,
             which
             are
             conteined
             in
             the
             Book
             which
             you
             call
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             are
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             So
             Great
             and
             Wonderful
             ,
             that
             I
             suspect
             no
             Mortal
             can
             observe
             them
             .
          
        
         
           I
           think
           it
           here
           sit
           to
           suggest
           this
           also
           ,
           That
           neither
           are
           we
           obliged
           to
           behave
           our selves
           under
           Afflictions
           ,
           as
           if
           we
           had
           no
           Sense
           of
           Pain
           .
           This
           is
           to
           suffer
           like
           Stoicks
           ,
           not
           like
           Christians
           .
           Afflictions
           are
           painful
           things
           ;
           
             They
             are
             not
             for
             the
             present
          
           (
           as
           the
           Apostle
           saith
           )
           
             joyous
             but
             grievous
          
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           were
           not
           Grievous
           they
           would
           not
           be
           Afflictions
           .
           And
           when
           a
           man
           is
           in
           pain
           ,
           to
           carry
           it
           as
           if
           he
           felt
           nothing
           ,
           is
           so
           far
           from
           being
           Brave
           ,
           or
           so
           much
           as
           Commendable
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           to
           play
           the
           Hypocrite
           .
           Our
           Saviour
           never
           taught
           us
           such
           
           Doctrin
           ,
           as
           not
           by
           Precept
           ,
           so
           neither
           by
           His
           Example
           ;
           since
           He
           Himself
           expressed
           a
           sharp
           Sense
           of
           Pain
           .
           And
           so
           Tender
           was
           his
           Nature
           ,
           that
           when
           He
           saw
           others
           weep
           for
           His
           dead
           Friend
           Lazarus
           ,
           He
           could
           not
           forbear
           weeping
           with
           them
           ,
           altho'
           He
           intended
           presently
           to
           restore
           him
           to
           Life
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           it
           is
           so
           far
           from
           being
           Blame-worthy
           in
           Us
           ,
           that
           it
           becomes
           us
           to
           shed
           tears
           ,
           and
           to
           use
           other
           Natural
           Expressions
           of
           Grief
           under
           Afflictions
           ;
           and
           as
           they
           are
           greater
           or
           less
           ,
           to
           express
           more
           or
           less
           Sense
           of
           them
           .
           Onely
           we
           must
           do
           all
           that
           lies
           in
           us
           not
           to
           be
           immoderate
           Mourners
           :
           That
           is
           ,
           we
           ought
           not
           to
           give
           way
           to
           so
           great
           a
           Dejection
           of
           Spirit
           ,
           as
           will
           disable
           us
           for
           those
           Duties
           which
           an
           Afflicted
           State
           calleth
           for
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           to
           Weeping
           ,
           I
           would
           be
           so
           far
           from
           Checking
           an
           Afflicted
           Person
           for
           it
           ,
           that
           I
           would
           Encourage
           him
           to
           it
           ,
           if
           he
           can
           weep
           .
           For
           Experience
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           Tears
           give
           a
           Vent
           to
           Grief
           ,
           and
           so
           give
           some
           
           Ease
           .
           But
           yet
           we
           may
           weep
           too
           much
           ,
           for
           Excessive
           Weeping
           raiseth
           Vapours
           ,
           and
           as
           much
           disturbs
           the
           Head
           ,
           as
           Moderate
           does
           relieve
           the
           Heart
           .
        
         
           
             And
             thus
             much
             for
             our
             Second
             Head
             of
             Discourse
             :
          
           What
           is
           here
           meant
           by
           Receiving
           Evil
           at
           God's
           Hand
           ?
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           
             We
             shall
             now
             shew
          
           ,
           How
           Receiving
           Good
           at
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           ,
           is
           a
           Motive
           to
           Receive
           Evil
           :
           Or
           ,
           wherein
           lyeth
           the
           Force
           of
           this
           Motive
           .
        
         
           The
           Force
           thereof
           lies
           in
           these
           Four
           Particulars
           ;
           which
           singly
           ,
           and
           much
           more
           Altogether
           ,
           do
           make
           it
           very
           Strong
           and
           Powerful
           .
        
         
           
             I.
             The
             Evils
             we
             Receive
             at
             God's
             Hand
             ,
             are
             exceeding
             Few
             in
             Comparison
             of
             the
             Good
             Things
             .
          
           
             II.
             Our
             Good
             Things
             are
             all
             Undeserved
             ,
             even
             the
             least
             of
             them
             ;
             but
             we
             deserve
             incomparably
             more
             Evil
             Things
             than
             we
             meet
             with
             in
             this
             world
             ,
             and
             incomparably
             Worse
             Things
             .
          
           
             III.
             We
             Need
             
               Evil
               Things
               as
               well
               as
               ,
               and
            
             no
             less
             
               than
               ,
               Good
               Things
            
             .
             Which
             will
             lead
             us
             to
             shew
             ,
             That
             ,
          
           
             
             IV.
             Evil
             things
             are
             Ordered
             and
             Appointed
             to
             us
             by
             God
             ,
             from
             the
             same
             Principle
             that
             Good
             things
             are
             :
             And
             therefore
             the
             Evil
             things
             which
             come
             from
             His
             Hand
             are
             Good
             ,
             considered
             as
             coming
             from
             thence
             .
          
        
         
           First
           ,
           The
           Evils
           which
           we
           receive
           at
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           ,
           are
           exceeding
           Few
           in
           comparison
           of
           the
           Good
           things
           ,
           which
           are
           innumerable
           .
           
             Our
             Good
             things
             are
             so
             many
             ,
             that
             we
             are
             dayly
             loaded
             with
             them
             .
          
           Blessed
           be
           the
           Lord
           ,
           
             saith
             the
          
           psalmist
           ,
           who
           darly
           loadeth
           us
           with
           His
           Benefits
           ,
           Psal.
           68.
           19.
           
        
         
           
             And
             he
          
           thus
           
             addresseth
             himself
             to
             God
          
           ,
           Psal.
           40.
           5.
           
           Many
           ,
           O
           Lord
           my
           God
           ,
           are
           Thy
           Wonderful
           Works
           which
           Thou
           hast
           done
           ,
           and
           Thy
           Thoughts
           which
           are
           to
           us
           ward
           :
           They
           cannot
           be
           reckoned
           up
           in
           Order
           unto
           Thee
           ;
           if
           I
           should
           declare
           and
           speak
           of
           them
           ,
           they
           are
           more
           than
           can
           be
           numbered
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           impossible
           for
           us
           to
           draw
           an
           Inventory
           of
           the
           Thousandth
           part
           of
           those
           Blessings
           ,
           which
           in
           a
           very
           short
           time
           we
           all
           receive
           from
           the
           Bounty
           of
           Heaven
           .
           Every
           Minute
           of
           our
           Lives
           is
           full
           of
           Mercies
           ,
           nor
           can
           we
           
           see
           any
           Place
           ,
           which
           doth
           not
           abound
           with
           Effects
           and
           Expressions
           of
           the
           Divine
           Benignity
           :
           Whether
           we
           look
           upwards
           or
           downwards
           ,
           or
           round
           about
           us
           ,
           or
           within
           us
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           without
           us
           .
           And
           all
           Considerative
           Persons
           are
           able
           to
           make
           a
           large
           Catalogue
           of
           more
           special
           Favours
           ,
           from
           time
           to
           time
           conferred
           upon
           them
           ,
           over
           and
           above
           those
           which
           are
           the
           Common
           Portion
           of
           their
           Fellow
           Creatures
           .
        
         
           Nay
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           certainly
           beyond
           the
           Ability
           of
           a
           Finite
           Understanding
           ,
           to
           comprehend
           all
           the
           individual
           Blessings
           which
           every
           Man
           is
           oblig'd
           to
           God
           for
           ;
           so
           is
           it
           too
           much
           for
           an
           Humane
           Understanding
           to
           number
           all
           the
           several
           Species
           and
           Sorts
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           We
           can
           begin
           with
           Meat
           ,
           Drink
           and
           Cloaths
           ,
           Health
           and
           Strength
           ,
           the
           Use
           of
           our
           Reason
           ,
           and
           many
           Bodily
           and
           Mental
           Endowments
           :
           And
           we
           can
           proceed
           to
           Friends
           and
           Relations
           ,
           to
           Preventions
           of
           Evils
           feared
           ,
           and
           Deliverances
           from
           Evils
           felt
           ,
           &c.
           
           But
           when
           we
           have
           gone
           as
           far
           as
           we
           can
           ,
           we
           can
           not
           say
           how
           
           much
           we
           have
           fallen
           short
           of
           filling
           up
           the
           Account
           ;
           and
           are
           fain
           to
           content
           our selves
           at
           last
           ,
           with
           summing
           up
           all
           in
           such
           Generals
           as
           these
           ,
           Necessaries
           ,
           Conveniences
           and
           Superfluities
           :
           Things
           Profitable
           ,
           Honourable
           and
           Pleasant
           :
           Bodily
           and
           Spiritual
           good
           things
           ;
           or
           those
           which
           relate
           to
           our
           Well-being
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           and
           to
           our
           Eternal
           Happiness
           in
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           
             Now
             what
             an
             Argument
             is
          
           this
           ,
           
             to
             perswade
             us
             to
             do
             what
             we
             shewed
             is
             implyed
             ,
             in
          
           Receiving
           Evil
           at
           God
           's
           Hand
           !
           viz.
           For
           now
           and
           then
           a
           Days
           Cloudy
           Weather
           ,
           I
           have
           many
           Weeks
           of
           Sun-shine
           :
           For
           a
           few
           Weeks
           Sickness
           ,
           I
           have
           many
           Months
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           Years
           of
           Health
           :
           Evils
           fall
           upon
           me
           in
           thin
           Drops
           ,
           but
           Good
           things
           come
           down
           in
           plentiful
           Showers
           ;
           Or
           I
           have
           many
           Thousands
           of
           Good
           things
           ,
           for
           One
           of
           Evil.
           
        
         
           This
           Consideration
           must
           needs
           make
           us
           sensible
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           the
           most
           disingenuous
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           to
           forget
           our
           Obligations
           to
           God
           for
           an
           infinite
           Number
           of
           Good
           things
           ,
           by
           
           means
           of
           the
           Greatest
           of
           those
           (
           Comparatively
           speaking
           )
           extremely
           few
           Evils
           ,
           from
           which
           His
           Providence
           does
           not
           protect
           us
           .
        
         
           Nay
           ,
           there
           is
           One
           Gift
           of
           GOD
           ,
           which
           Alone
           will
           Weigh
           down
           all
           the
           Temporal
           Evils
           that
           do
           ,
           or
           can
           befal
           us
           ;
           Namely
           ,
           That
           of
           
             His
             own
             Son
          
           :
           How
           then
           are
           they
           Out-weighed
           by
           this
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           other
           Fruits
           of
           the
           Divine
           Mercy
           and
           Bounty
           put
           together
           !
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           
             Another
             Consideration
             that
             adds
             much
             to
             the
             force
             of
             this
             Motive
             ,
             is
             ,
             That
          
           our
           Good
           things
           are
           all
           Undeserved
           ,
           even
           the
           very
           least
           of
           them
           :
           But
           we
           deserve
           all
           the
           Evils
           we
           Suffer
           ,
           and
           incomparably
           more
           and
           greater
           ,
           than
           are
           inflicted
           in
           this
           Life
           .
           
             There
             is
             no
             good
             man
             ,
             but
             will
             readily
             say
             with
          
           Iacob
           ,
           Gen.
           32.
           10.
           
           I
           am
           not
           Worthy
           of
           the
           least
           of
           all
           the
           Mercies
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           the
           Truth
           ,
           which
           Thou
           hast
           sh●wed
           unto
           Thy
           Servant
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           impossible
           that
           such
           poor
           Impotent
           Creatures
           as
           We
           are
           ,
           should
           be
           able
           to
           do
           any
           Service
           ,
           whereby
           we
           can
           Challenge
           the
           least
           Reward
           
           at
           the
           Hands
           of
           our
           Creator
           ,
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           Merit
           .
        
         
           Indeed
           the
           notion
           of
           a
           Creature
           is
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           least
           deserving
           from
           Him.
           A
           creature
           owing
           all
           that
           it
           is
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Power
           it
           hath
           ,
           to
           its
           Maker
           .
           It
           being
           a
           perfectly
           Dependent
           thing
           ,
           and
           Unable
           to
           Act
           or
           to
           Subsist
           one
           Moment
           ,
           but
           by
           virtue
           of
           its
           dependence
           upon
           its
           First
           Cause
           .
           And
           therefore
           the
           Glorious
           Angels
           themselves
           must
           needs
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           obliged
           to
           the
           Divine
           Grace
           for
           all
           the
           Blessings
           they
           Enjoy
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           the
           notion
           of
           a
           Creature
           Excludeth
           all
           Merit
           in
           reference
           to
           God
           ,
           so
           doth
           the
           notion
           of
           a
           God
           ,
           render
           it
           impossible
           for
           a
           Creature
           to
           Merit
           of
           Him.
           For
           that
           Notion
           being
           
             Absolute
             Perfection
             ,
             and
             Infinite
             Self-Sufficiency
             ,
          
           it
           is
           impossible
           to
           do
           God
           a
           Kindness
           ;
           and
           for
           him
           to
           be
           Beholden
           to
           any
           one
           .
           
             Can
             a
             Man
          
           ,
           saith
           
             Eliphaz
             ,
             be
             Profitable
             to
             God
             ,
             as
             he
             that
             is
             Wise
             may
             be
             Profitable
             unto
             himself
             ?
             Is
             it
             any
             Pleasure
             ,
          
           or
           addition
           of
           Happiness
           ,
           
             to
             the
             Almighty
             ,
             
             that
             thou
             art
             Righteous
             ?
             Or
             is
             it
             Gain
             to
             Him
             ,
             that
             thou
             makest
             thy
             ways
             Perfect
             ?
          
           Job
           21.
           2
           ,
           3.
           
           And
           therefore
           I
           say
           ,
           there
           can
           be
           no
           proper
           Meriting
           at
           His
           Hands
           .
        
         
           But
           on
           the
           Contrary
           ,
           the
           Evils
           we
           receive
           are
           all
           Deserved
           .
           We
           cannot
           but
           be
           Convinced
           of
           our
           ill
           deserts
           ,
           when
           we
           Consider
           that
           we
           are
           Lapsed
           and
           Apostate
           Creatures
           ;
           and
           how
           we
           have
           Transgressed
           the
           Eternal
           Laws
           of
           Righteousness
           ,
           and
           Affronted
           the
           Great
           Sovereign
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           by
           innumerable
           Acts
           of
           Disobedience
           .
           He
           knows
           not
           what
           Sin
           is
           ;
           what
           Horrible
           Injustice
           is
           in
           it
           ;
           how
           Intolerably
           Presumptuous
           a
           thing
           it
           is
           ,
           for
           Creatures
           to
           oppose
           their
           wills
           to
           the
           Wise
           and
           Good
           Will
           of
           their
           Great
           Creator
           ;
           nor
           does
           he
           know
           what
           Prodigious
           Ingratitude
           ,
           nor
           what
           Desperate
           Madness
           ,
           every
           Wilful
           Sin
           against
           God
           Implyeth
           ,
           who
           is
           not
           sensible
           that
           the
           Worst
           of
           Evils
           are
           deserved
           by
           him
           .
        
         
           And
           whosoever
           have
           a
           due
           Sense
           of
           their
           Sins
           ,
           will
           say
           whilst
           under
           
           the
           Heaviest
           Calamities
           with
           Nehemiah
           ,
           in
           the
           Name
           of
           the
           Rebellious
           
             Israelites
             ,
             How
             be
             it
             ,
             Thou
             Lord
             art
             just
             in
             all
             that
             is
             come
             upon
             us
             ,
             for
             Thou
             hast
             done
             Right
             ,
             but
             we
             have
             done
             Wickedly
             ,
          
           Ch.
           9.
           33.
           
           And
           with
           
             Ezra
             ,
             Thou
             hast
             punished
             us
             less
             than
             our
             Iniquities
             deserve
             ,
          
           Chap.
           9.
           13.
           
        
         
           And
           as
           in
           the
           General
           ,
           all
           Kinds
           of
           Evils
           are
           deserved
           by
           us
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           been
           more
           or
           less
           Guilty
           of
           Wilful
           sinning
           ,
           so
           whatsoever
           particular
           Evils
           we
           at
           any
           time
           fall
           under
           ,
           we
           are
           ,
           I
           doubt
           ,
           (
           ordinarily
           at
           least
           )
           Conscious
           to
           our selves
           of
           having
           more
           especially
           deserved
           each
           of
           them
           ,
           by
           such
           and
           such
           Particular
           Sins
           .
           Who
           ,
           for
           instance
           ,
           when
           he
           is
           cast
           upon
           a
           Bed
           of
           Sickness
           ,
           is
           not
           sensible
           that
           he
           deserveth
           to
           be
           deprived
           of
           his
           Health
           ,
           by
           having
           too
           much
           abused
           it
           while
           he
           enjoyed
           it
           ;
           or
           by
           having
           been
           too
           unthankful
           for
           it
           ?
           Who
           when
           he
           hath
           lost
           a
           Dear
           Relative
           ,
           doth
           not
           ,
           or
           ought
           not
           ,
           to
           Reflect
           upon
           his
           having
           over-loved
           him
           ,
           or
           not
           having
           had
           a
           due
           value
           for
           the
           Blessing
           he
           
           had
           in
           him
           ;
           or
           not
           having
           discharged
           his
           duty
           towards
           him
           ,
           &c.
           
           Again
           ,
           where
           is
           that
           Man
           to
           be
           found
           ,
           who
           ,
           when
           he
           has
           Susteined
           a
           great
           Loss
           in
           his
           Estate
           ,
           is
           not
           compelled
           by
           his
           Conscience
           to
           acknowledge
           that
           this
           is
           very
           just
           upon
           him
           ,
           for
           his
           having
           made
           it
           Serviceable
           to
           some
           Lust
           or
           other
           ,
           or
           his
           having
           made
           an
           Idol
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           Preferred
           it
           before
           God
           ;
           or
           for
           doing
           too
           little
           good
           with
           it
           ,
           or
           for
           minding
           the
           great
           Concerns
           of
           his
           Soul
           and
           the
           other
           Life
           ,
           the
           Less
           for
           it
           ?
           Who
           ,
           when
           he
           is
           wronged
           in
           his
           Good-Name
           ,
           can
           say
           he
           deserves
           not
           to
           suffer
           in
           this
           kind
           from
           the
           Providence
           of
           God
           ,
           either
           for
           having
           so
           wronged
           Others
           ;
           or
           for
           not
           being
           so
           tender
           as
           he
           ought
           to
           have
           been
           of
           their
           Reputation
           ;
           or
           for
           having
           been
           too
           forward
           ,
           to
           take
           up
           Reports
           against
           men
           ,
           without
           good
           Evidence
           ;
           or
           over-valuing
           his
           own
           Credit
           ,
           and
           Priding
           himself
           therein
           ;
           or
           for
           not
           having
           Endeavoured
           as
           he
           ought
           ,
           to
           promote
           the
           interest
           of
           Religion
           thereby
           ;
           nor
           Imployed
           it
           to
           those
           good
           Ends
           and
           Purposes
           ,
           upon
           the
           
           account
           of
           which
           a
           good
           Name
           in
           the
           World
           is
           chiefly
           desirable
           ?
        
         
           Now
           what
           Stronger
           Arguing
           can
           there
           be
           than
           this
           ?
           Do
           we
           receive
           good
           things
           in
           so
           great
           an
           Abundance
           ,
           from
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           ,
           when
           our
           Merits
           could
           not
           Claim
           the
           very
           least
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           is
           it
           then
           Reasonable
           that
           we
           should
           think
           much
           of
           receiving
           Evil
           things
           also
           from
           the
           same
           Hand
           ;
           when
           our
           Hearts
           Accuse
           us
           of
           having
           deserved
           every
           one
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           much
           greater
           Evils
           too
           ,
           than
           have
           ever
           befallen
           us
           ?
        
         
           I
           will
           bear
           ,
           
             saith
             the
             Prophet
          
           ,
           the
           Indignation
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           because
           I
           have
           Sinned
           against
           Him
           ,
           
             Micah
             Ch.
          
           7.
           9.
           
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           It
           adds
           still
           more
           Force
           and
           Strength
           to
           this
           Motive
           ,
           to
           Consider
           ,
           That
           We
           need
           
             Evil
             things
             as
             well
             as
             Good
             ,
             and
             no
             less
             than
             Good
             things
             .
          
           Afflictions
           are
           needful
           for
           all
           Sorts
           of
           People
           :
           For
           the
           Bad
           ;
           for
           the
           more
           Imperfectly
           Good
           ,
           and
           even
           for
           the
           very
           Best
           .
        
         
           I.
           They
           are
           Needful
           ,
           and
           most
           Necessary
           ,
           for
           Bad
           People
           .
           For
           those
           
             who
             live
             without
             God
             in
             the
             World
          
           ;
           
           who
           make
           none
           ,
           or
           but
           little
           Conscience
           of
           their
           Ways
           ;
           who
           live
           in
           great
           Forgetfulness
           of
           their
           being
           Subject
           to
           Gods
           Sovereign
           Authority
           ,
           of
           their
           Continual
           Dependance
           upon
           Him
           ,
           both
           for
           their
           Well-being
           and
           their
           Continuance
           in
           Being
           ,
           and
           of
           their
           Unspeakable
           Obligations
           to
           Him
           ;
           
             Who
             are
             alienated
             from
             the
             Life
             of
             God
             ,
          
           and
           wholly
           addicted
           to
           the
           Animal
           and
           Sensual
           Life
           ,
           and
           Mindless
           of
           the
           Concerns
           of
           their
           Immortal
           Souls
           .
        
         
           Afflictions
           are
           so
           necessary
           for
           such
           as
           these
           ,
           that
           no
           other
           Means
           are
           like
           to
           be
           Effectual
           to
           their
           Conversion
           ,
           
             to
             the
             Opening
             of
             their
             Eyes
             ,
             and
             the
             turning
             them
             from
             Darkness
             to
             Light
             ,
             and
             from
             the
             Power
             of
             Satan
             to
             God
             ,
          
           Except
           they
           are
           inforced
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           Afflictions
           are
           in
           their
           
             own
             nature
          
           apt
           to
           make
           men
           Serious
           ,
           and
           to
           put
           Vain
           People
           upon
           Considering
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           by
           their
           being
           backed
           with
           the
           
             Divine
             Grace
          
           .
           They
           are
           most
           Proper
           Means
           to
           this
           End
           ,
           as
           they
           force
           Sinners
           to
           retire
           from
           their
           Naughty
           Companions
           ,
           and
           from
           their
           Sports
           
           and
           Pastimes
           (
           especially
           if
           they
           are
           very
           Smarting
           and
           Painful
           )
           and
           from
           all
           their
           Secular
           Employments
           too
           ,
           by
           setting
           their
           hearts
           on
           which
           ,
           they
           are
           continually
           diverted
           from
           concerning
           themselves
           in
           the
           Affairs
           of
           Religion
           and
           the
           other
           World
           ;
           and
           as
           they
           render
           all
           Carnal
           and
           Worldly
           Delights
           and
           Pleasures
           unsavoury
           to
           them
           .
           Afflictions
           do
           also
           naturally
           Excite
           men
           to
           
             Call
             upon
             God
          
           ,
           especially
           when
           they
           are
           sensible
           that
           
             He
             alone
          
           is
           able
           to
           Help
           them
           ;
           and
           Awaken
           their
           Consciences
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           Reflect
           upon
           their
           many
           Miscarriages
           ,
           as
           having
           Provoked
           Him
           to
           inflict
           them
           .
           And
           they
           as
           naturally
           put
           them
           upon
           making
           Strong
           Resolutions
           to
           amend
           their
           Lives
           for
           the
           Atoning
           of
           His
           displeasure
           .
        
         
           Thus
           the
           Woman
           of
           Zarephath
           ,
           upon
           the
           suddain
           death
           of
           her
           Child
           ,
           Cryed
           out
           to
           the
           Prophet
           ,
           
             Art
             thou
             come
             unto
             me
             to
             call
             my
             Sin
             to
             remembrance
             ,
             and
             to
             Slay
             my
             Son
             ?
          
           1
           Kings
           17.
           18.
           
        
         
           
             And
             thus
          
           Iosephs
           
             Brethren
             ,
             upon
             
             the
             Severity
             he
             used
             towards
             them
             ,
          
           Said
           one
           to
           another
           ,
           we
           are
           verily
           Guilty
           Concerning
           our
           Brother
           ;
           in
           that
           we
           Saw
           the
           Anguish
           of
           his
           Soul
           when
           he
           besought
           us
           ,
           and
           we
           would
           not
           hear
           ;
           therefore
           is
           this
           distress
           come
           upon
           us
           .
           Gen.
           42.
           21.
           
        
         
           
             God
             saith
          
           ,
           Hosea
           5.
           15.
           
           I
           will
           go
           and
           return
           to
           my
           Place
           ,
           
             or
             I
             will
             withdraw
             my
             Protection
             from
             them
             ,
          
           till
           they
           acknowledge
           their
           Offence
           ,
           and
           seek
           my
           Face
           :
           In
           their
           Affliction
           they
           will
           seek
           me
           Early
           .
        
         
           
             And
             it
             is
             said
          
           ,
           Psal.
           78.
           34.
           
           When
           He
           Slew
           them
           ,
           then
           they
           Sought
           Him
           ,
           and
           they
           Returned
           and
           Enquired
           after
           God.
           And
           they
           Remembred
           that
           God
           was
           their
           Rock
           ,
           and
           the
           High
           God
           their
           Redeemer
           .
           Or
           ,
           then
           
             they
             called
          
           this
           
             to
             mind
             ,
             who
             till
             they
             were
             Afflicted
             ,
             could
             never
             be
             perswaded
             to
             Consider
             it
             .
          
        
         
           As
           Stubborn
           a
           Wretch
           as
           Pharoah
           was
           ,
           his
           Hard
           heart
           was
           quickly
           from
           time
           to
           time
           Softned
           by
           the
           Plagues
           ,
           and
           it
           reteined
           its
           Softness
           under
           
             each
             Plague
          
           ,
           till
           it
           was
           removed
           .
        
         
           When
           the
           
             Prodigal
             Son
          
           was
           brought
           
           to
           extream
           Penury
           ,
           he
           soon
           
             came
             to
             himself
          
           and
           Returned
           to
           his
           Father
           .
        
         
           King
           Manasseh
           
             was
             a
             Prodigy
             of
             Wickedness
             ,
             yet
          
           When
           he
           was
           in
           Affliction
           
             (
             as
             the
             Text
             saith
          
           )
           he
           besought
           the
           Lord
           his
           God
           ,
           and
           Humbled
           himself
           greatly
           before
           the
           God
           of
           his
           Fathers
           .
           And
           Prayed
           unto
           Him
           ,
           and
           He
           was
           intreated
           of
           him
           ,
           &c.
           
           Then
           Manasseh
           knew
           that
           the
           Lord
           He
           is
           God.
           
             Or
             he
             had
             a
          
           Powerful
           Sense
           
             thereof
             upon
             his
             Mind
          
           ,
           2
           Chron.
           33.
           12
           ,
           13.
           
        
         
           Afflictions
           are
           so
           necessary
           to
           the
           Conversion
           of
           Sinners
           ,
           that
           those
           who
           have
           spent
           many
           years
           in
           a
           Loose
           Sort
           of
           Life
           ,
           are
           very
           rarely
           Effectually
           Reclaimed
           otherways
           ,
           than
           by
           Gods
           Blessing
           upon
           some
           Sharp
           Affliction
           .
        
         
           II.
           Evil
           things
           ,
           or
           Afflictions
           ,
           are
           very
           Needful
           and
           Necessary
           for
           
             Imperfectly
             Good
          
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           for
           Bad
           ,
           People
           .
           They
           greatly
           need
           them
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           their
           
             Growing
             in
             Grace
          
           ,
           and
           rising
           to
           higher
           degrees
           of
           Goodness
           .
        
         
           Particularly
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           their
           being
           more
           Watchful
           against
           Temptations
           to
           Sin.
           This
           Experience
           King
           
           David
           had
           of
           the
           Benefit
           of
           Afflictions
           .
           
             Before
             I
             was
             Afflicted
          
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             I
             went
             Astray
             ,
             but
             now
             have
             I
             kept
             thy
             Word
             .
          
           Psal.
           119.
           67.
           
        
         
           In
           order
           to
           the
           more
           weaning
           them
           from
           this
           Vain
           World
           ,
           and
           the
           Mortifying
           of
           all
           Remainders
           of
           Sensuality
           .
        
         
           In
           order
           to
           the
           more
           Humbling
           them
           ,
           under
           a
           Sense
           of
           their
           Frailty
           and
           Impotence
           ,
           and
           their
           more
           close
           dependence
           upon
           God.
           
        
         
           In
           order
           to
           the
           more
           Softning
           of
           their
           Hearts
           ,
           and
           more
           opening
           their
           Bowels
           of
           Compassion
           towards
           others
           in
           Affliction
           .
           None
           have
           such
           a
           sympathy
           with
           their
           Suffering
           Brethren
           ,
           as
           those
           who
           are
           made
           sensible
           of
           the
           Sadness
           of
           their
           Condition
           ,
           by
           their
           own
           Feeling
           .
        
         
           In
           order
           to
           their
           more
           loving
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           Trusting
           in
           Him.
           To
           which
           the
           Experience
           they
           have
           had
           of
           Divine
           Supports
           under
           Afflictions
           ,
           and
           Deliverances
           out
           of
           them
           ,
           doth
           greatly
           Contribute
           .
        
         
           
             In
             short
             ,
             by
             Afflictions
          
           The
           Iniquity
           of
           Jacob
           is
           purged
           ,
           and
           this
           is
           
           all
           the
           Fruit
           ,
           to
           take
           away
           his
           Sin.
           Isaiah
           22.
           14.
           
        
         
           III.
           Evil
           things
           are
           needful
           too
           even
           for
           the
           Eminently
           Good.
           And
           that
           ,
           as
           upon
           some
           of
           the
           forementioned
           Accounts
           ,
           so
           more
           Especially
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           For
           Prevention
           .
           For
           which
           End
           the
           most
           Healthy
           Persons
           do
           sometimes
           take
           Physick
           .
           St
           Paul
           ,
           as
           Eminent
           a
           Saint
           as
           he
           was
           ,
           had
           a
           
             Messenger
             of
             Satan
             sent
             to
             Buffet
             him
             ,
             lest
             he
             should
             be
             Exalted
             above
             measure
             ,
             through
             the
             Abundance
             of
             his
             Revelations
             ,
          
           as
           he
           tells
           us
           ,
           2
           Cor.
           12.
           7.
           
        
         
           There
           are
           none
           so
           Good
           as
           to
           be
           out
           of
           all
           danger
           ,
           while
           they
           remain
           in
           this
           World
           ;
           as
           to
           be
           able
           to
           bear
           long
           and
           uninterrupted
           Prosperity
           ,
           without
           being
           lyable
           to
           be
           the
           worse
           for
           it
           in
           several
           respects
           .
        
         
           Who
           is
           so
           Humble
           ,
           who
           so
           Heavenly
           minded
           ,
           as
           to
           have
           no
           Reason
           to
           fear
           his
           being
           too
           much
           Opinionated
           of
           himself
           ,
           and
           loving
           the
           world
           too
           much
           ,
           if
           God
           did
           not
           sometimes
           mind
           him
           what
           an
           infirm
           and
           weak
           Creature
           he
           is
           ,
           by
           Afflictions
           of
           one
           
           kind
           or
           other
           ,
           and
           never
           imbittered
           his
           Comforts
           to
           him
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Best
           People
           need
           them
           likewise
           ,
           for
           the
           Tryal
           and
           Exercise
           of
           some
           Graces
           and
           Virtues
           ,
           which
           cannot
           be
           exerted
           without
           them
           .
           What
           Exercise
           can
           there
           be
           of
           the
           Grace
           of
           Contentment
           ,
           while
           all
           things
           succeed
           according
           to
           a
           man's
           desire
           and
           expectation
           ?
           Of
           Patience
           ,
           while
           he
           feels
           no
           pain
           ?
           Of
           Submission
           to
           
           God's
           Will
           ,
           while
           God
           never
           Crosseth
           his
           Own
           Will
           ?
           Of
           Meekness
           and
           
             Forgiveness
             of
             Enemies
          
           ,
           while
           he
           hath
           no
           Enemies
           to
           forgive
           ,
           or
           meets
           with
           no
           Provocations
           from
           them
           ?
           And
           this
           leads
           me
           to
           Add
           ,
        
         
           3.
           
           That
           the
           Best
           do
           need
           Afflictions
           ,
           in
           Order
           to
           their
           doing
           so
           much
           the
           more
           Credit
           to
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           benefiting
           the
           World
           by
           their
           Examples
           .
           For
           we
           have
           now
           seen
           ,
           that
           they
           cannot
           be
           Examples
           of
           all
           Virtues
           without
           them
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           The
           Best
           need
           them
           also
           ,
           to
           make
           them
           so
           much
           the
           more
           to
           Value
           ,
           and
           consequently
           to
           be
           the
           more
           Thankful
           for
           ,
           the
           Good
           things
           they
           
           enjoy
           .
           There
           is
           no
           Man
           so
           good
           ,
           but
           he
           prizeth
           Health
           the
           more
           ,
           for
           being
           some
           times
           Sick.
           No
           man
           can
           be
           so
           affected
           with
           his
           Obligations
           to
           God
           for
           any
           Blessing
           ,
           who
           never
           was
           without
           it
           ,
           as
           he
           who
           hath
           felt
           how
           uneasie
           and
           grievous
           a
           thing
           it
           is
           to
           want
           it
           .
        
         
           Nay
           ,
           were
           there
           no
           Life
           after
           this
           ,
           we
           should
           think
           tolerable
           Evils
           necessary
           to
           give
           the
           better
           Gusto
           ,
           &
           a
           more
           pleasing
           Relish
           to
           the
           Gratifications
           of
           our
           Senses
           .
           The
           more
           Hungry
           or
           Thirsty
           a
           Man
           is
           ,
           the
           greater
           is
           the
           Pleasure
           he
           takes
           in
           Eating
           or
           Drinking
           .
           How
           pleasant
           is
           a
           Bed
           or
           Couch
           to
           a
           Man
           tyred
           with
           hard
           Labour
           ;
           a
           cool
           Shade
           to
           one
           parched
           with
           Heat
           ;
           Liberty
           after
           Confinement
           ;
           the
           Enjoyment
           of
           a
           dear
           Relation
           or
           Friend
           ,
           after
           a
           long
           Absence
           ;
           and
           even
           Indolence
           or
           mere
           Ease
           ,
           after
           great
           Pain
           !
           As
           Socrates
           observed
           ,
           in
           his
           last
           Discourse
           with
           his
           Friends
           ,
           after
           he
           was
           rid
           of
           his
           Shackles
           .
        
         
           And
           perhaps
           there
           are
           not
           many
           Evils
           ,
           which
           we
           are
           able
           to
           bear
           with
           any
           patience
           ,
           and
           that
           continue
           not
           
           over-long
           ,
           which
           do
           not
           make
           us
           a
           good
           Recompence
           ,
           by
           the
           much
           more
           pleasant
           Enjoyment
           we
           have
           of
           the
           Opposite
           Good
           things
           ,
           upon
           their
           Leaving
           us
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           The
           last
           Consideration
           I
           named
           ,
           which
           gives
           great
           Weight
           to
           the
           Motive
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           
             To
             Receive
             Evil
             things
             at
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
             ,
             is
             ,
          
           That
           they
           are
           Ordered
           and
           Appointed
           to
           us
           by
           God
           ,
           from
           the
           Self-same
           Principle
           that
           Good
           things
           are
           ,
           
             viz.
             That
             of
             Good
             Will.
          
           And
           therefore
           ,
           as
           was
           said
           ,
           the
           Evils
           which
           come
           from
           Him
           are
           Good
           ,
           as
           they
           come
           from
           Him.
           
        
         
           
             There
             is
             an
             Excellent
             Saying
             to
             this
             Purpose
             of
             an
          
           Heathen
           
             Philosopher
             ▪
          
           viz
           :
           *
           Simplicius
           ,
           We
           do
           not
           say
           that
           the
           Divine
           Iustice
           is
           the
           Cause
           of
           Evil
           ,
           but
           of
           Good
           ;
           because
           the
           Evil
           which
           proceeds
           from
           thence
           ,
           is
           in
           order
           to
           Good.
           
        
         
           We
           have
           seen
           that
           all
           sorts
           of
           Men
           do
           need
           Evil
           things
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           Good
           ;
           and
           we
           are
           now
           to
           shew
           ,
           that
           God
           inflicts
           them
           ,
           because
           we
           need
           them
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           shewed
           ,
           That
           they
           are
           
           Spiritual
           Physick
           ,
           for
           the
           Cure
           of
           the
           Maladies
           of
           our
           Souls
           ;
           and
           we
           find
           that
           for
           this
           Reason
           God
           sends
           them
           ,
           in
           Hebr.
           12.
           9
           ,
           10.
           
           The
           Apostle
           tells
           us
           in
           some
           of
           the
           foregoing
           Verses
           ,
           That
           in
           the
           general
           ,
           Gods
           End
           in
           his
           Chastizements
           is
           good
           ;
           that
           Good-will
           is
           the
           Principle
           from
           whence
           they
           proceed
           ;
           and
           in
           these
           he
           shews
           particularly
           ,
           that
           God
           designs
           our
           Spiritual
           Advantage
           by
           them
           .
           Furthermore
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             we
             have
             had
             Fathers
             of
             our
             Flesh
             which
             corrected
             us
             ,
             and
             we
             gave
             them
             reverence
             ;
             shall
             we
             not
             much
             more
             be
             in
             Subjection
             to
             the
             Father
             of
             Spirits●
             and
             Live
             ?
             For
             they
             verily
             for
             a
             few
             days
             chastened
             us
             ,
             after
             their
             own
             pleasure
             ;
             but
             He
             for
             our
             Profit
             ,
             that
             we
             might
             be
             Partakers
             of
             His
             Holiness
             .
          
        
         
           We
           have
           shewn
           ,
           That
           Afflictions
           are
           needful
           ,
           not
           onely
           for
           Correction
           ,
           in
           Order
           to
           our
           Amendment
           ,
           but
           ,
           for
           Tryal
           too
           ;
           and
           we
           read
           that
           this
           End
           also
           God
           hath
           in
           them
           ,
           1
           Pet.
           1.
           6
           ,
           7.
           —
           
             Now
             for
             a
             Season
             (
             if
             need
             be
             )
             ye
             are
             in
             Heaviness
             through
             manifold
             Temptations
             :
             That
             the
             Tryal
             of
             
             your
             Faith
             being
             much
             more
             precious
             than
             that
             of
             Gold
             which
             perisheth
             ,
             tho'
             it
             be
             tryed
             with
             Fire
          
           (
           or
           ,
           it
           being
           of
           much
           more
           Advantage
           to
           your
           Faith
           ,
           than
           the
           Tryal
           of
           Gold
           is
           to
           Gold
           ,
           because
           it
           will
           
             wear
             out
          
           ,
           tho'
           it
           can
           bear
           the
           trial
           of
           Fire
           )
           
             might
             be
             found
             unto
             Praise
             ,
             &
             Honour
             ,
             &
             Glory
             ,
             at
             the
             appearing
             of
             Iesus
             Christ.
          
           And
           1
           Pet.
           4.
           12.
           
           
             Think
             it
             not
             strange
             concerning
             the
             Fiery
             Tryal
             ,
             which
             is
             to
             Try
             you
             ,
             &c.
          
           or
           ,
           is
           designed
           by
           God
           for
           this
           purpose
           .
        
         
           God
           is
           alike
           good
           in
           the
           Evils
           He
           inflicts
           ,
           &
           the
           Good
           things
           he
           con●ers
           upon
           us
           ;
           as
           the
           Physitian
           hath
           the
           same
           Good
           design
           towards
           his
           Patient
           ,
           in
           his
           Griping
           Physick
           and
           Comforting
           Cordials
           :
           He
           equally
           aims
           at
           the
           Recovery
           of
           his
           Health
           ,
           in
           making
           him
           Uneasy
           with
           the
           One
           ,
           and
           Chearing
           his
           Spirits
           with
           the
           Other
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           Considering
           this
           Last
           with
           the
           foregoing
           Particulars
           ;
           nay
           ,
           tho'
           there
           were
           no
           other
           but
           this
           to
           be
           considered
           ,
           well
           might
           Iob
           say
           ,
           
             Shall
             we
             receive
             Good
             at
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             shall
             we
             not
             receive
             Evil
             ?
          
           And
           infinite
           
           reason
           have
           we
           ,
           not
           only
           to
           be
           Patient
           under
           Evil
           things
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           Thankful
           for
           them
           too
           ;
           seeing
           they
           are
           not
           so
           Evil
           Considered
           in
           themselves
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           Good
           Considering
           their
           Design
           ;
           seeing
           ,
           if
           we
           will
           Comply
           therewith
           ,
           they
           are
           not
           more
           painful
           than
           they
           are
           profitable
           ,
           nor
           so
           Injurious
           to
           our
           Outward
           Man
           ,
           as
           Beneficial
           to
           our
           Inward
           .
        
         
           
             I
             will
             Conclude
          
           this
           
             Argument
             with
             the
             Words
             of
             another
             of
             the
             Philosophers
             ,
          
           viz.
           *
           Epictetus
           in
           Arrian
           ;
           O
           Man
           ,
           what
           dost
           thou
           ?
           Why
           dost
           thou
           not
           rid
           thy self
           of
           all
           this
           Trouble
           ?
           Adventure
           at
           last
           ,
           with
           eyes
           lifted
           up
           to
           God
           ,
           to
           say
           unto
           Him
           ;
           Vse
           me
           ,
           O
           God
           ,
           for
           the
           future
           at
           Thine
           own
           Pleasure
           ,
           Thou
           hast
           my
           freest
           Consent
           .
           I
           am
           of
           the
           same
           Mind
           that
           Thou
           art
           ,
           I
           have
           a
           Mind
           to
           nothing
           but
           what
           Thou
           thinkest
           Good.
           Lead
           me
           whither
           Thou
           wilt
           ,
           Cloath
           me
           as
           Thou
           pleasest
           .
           Wilt
           Thou
           have
           me
           bear
           an
           Office
           ,
           or
           shall
           I
           live
           a
           private
           Life
           ?
           Must
           I
           stay
           ,
           or
           must
           I
           fly
           ?
           Shall
           I
           be
           Poor
           ,
           or
           shall
           I
           be
           Rich
           ?
           I
           am
           ready
           to
           Obey
           ,
           I
           will
           defend
           Thee
           against
           all
           the
           World.
           I
           
           will
           make
           an
           Apology
           for
           Thy
           Providence
           about
           these
           things
           to
           every
           Body
           .
           I
           say
           that
           all
           is
           Good
           ,
           because
           Thou
           art
           so
           .
           
             What
             could
             he
             have
             said
             better
             ,
             had
             he
             been
             a
             Christian
             ?
          
        
         
           But
           to
           prevent
           Mistakes
           ,
           I
           desire
           it
           may
           be
           observed
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           not
           said
           that
           in
           whatsoever
           Evils
           men
           may
           Suffer
           ,
           God
           aimeth
           at
           the
           benefit
           and
           advantage
           of
           the
           Sufferers
           ;
           for
           had
           I
           affirmed
           this
           I
           could
           not
           have
           justified
           it
           :
           There
           being
           some
           Evils
           which
           we
           have
           cause
           to
           look
           upon
           as
           wholly
           Iudgments
           ,
           and
           as
           proceeding
           from
           mere
           Vengeance
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           those
           on
           whom
           they
           are
           inflicted
           .
           As
           when
           a
           Notoriously
           wicked
           Wretch
           is
           Cut
           off
           in
           the
           very
           Act
           of
           some
           Horrible
           Wickedness
           .
           Instances
           of
           this
           kind
           are
           not
           only
           to
           be
           found
           in
           the
           Sacred
           Records
           ,
           but
           our
           Own
           Age
           hath
           produced
           such
           ,
           and
           Possibly
           no
           Age
           hath
           been
           without
           them
           .
           And
           when
           provoking
           Sinners
           are
           taken
           away
           in
           their
           Sins
           ,
           without
           any
           Previous
           Warning
           .
           But
           it
           is
           notwithstanding
           most
           true
           ,
           that
           God
           Almighty's
           Design
           is
           Good
           in
           all
           Evils
           ;
           for
           
           when
           He
           means
           not
           the
           Good
           of
           the
           Sufferers
           ,
           He
           intends
           a
           more
           General
           and
           Publick
           Good
           :
           That
           all
           Spectators
           of
           such
           Judgments
           ,
           and
           those
           to
           whom
           the
           Notice
           of
           them
           shall
           come
           ,
           may
           be
           Scared
           by
           them
           from
           those
           Impious
           Practises
           which
           drew
           them
           down
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           will
           add
           ,
           That
           those
           have
           not
           the
           least
           reason
           to
           fear
           ,
           that
           Evil
           things
           of
           any
           nature
           whatsoever
           ,
           have
           fallen
           upon
           them
           in
           
             mere
             Iudgment
          
           ,
           who
           do
           not
           feel
           themselves
           given
           up
           to
           
             Hardness
             of
             heart
          
           ;
           by
           which
           Phrase
           we
           are
           to
           understand
           
             Perversness
             of
             Will
          
           ,
           or
           to
           a
           
             Reprobate
             Sense
             ▪
          
           but
           find
           that
           their
           Afflictions
           have
           a
           good
           influence
           upon
           their
           Minds
           ;
           that
           they
           make
           them
           more
           Serious
           ,
           and
           Excite
           in
           them
           good
           Inclinations
           ,
           and
           Awaken
           them
           to
           Consider
           
             the
             things
             which
             belong
             to
             their
             Peace
             ,
          
           and
           Eternal
           Happiness
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           We
           are
           now
           come
           to
           the
           Inferences
           ,
           which
           are
           to
           be
           drawn
           from
           the
           Doctrine
           we
           have
           delivered
           .
        
         
         
           First
           ,
           I
           Infer
           from
           thence
           ,
           how
           we
           are
           to
           Pray
           Against
           Afflictions
           ,
           viz.
           Not
           Absolutely
           ,
           but
           Conditionally
           ,
           and
           with
           intire
           Submission
           .
        
         
           That
           it
           is
           Lawful
           to
           deprecate
           them
           ,
           we
           are
           well
           assured
           ,
           in
           that
           we
           find
           not
           only
           the
           best
           Men
           so
           doing
           in
           H.
           Scripture
           ,
           but
           also
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           Himself
           .
           He
           did
           so
           ,
           
             Iohn
             12.
             27.
             
             Now
             is
             my
             Soul
             troubled
             ,
             and
             what
             shall
             I
             say
             ?
             Father
             Save
             me
             from
             this
             Hour
             .
          
           And
           He
           doth
           the
           like
           ,
           
             Matth.
             26.
             39.
             
             O
             my
             Father
             ,
             if
             it
             be
             Possible
             ,
             let
             this
             Cup
             pass
             from
             me
             .
          
        
         
           
             But
             we
             have
             also
             His
             Example
             ,
             for
             Praying
             against
             the
             Bitter
             Cup
          
           Conditionally
           ,
           
             and
             with
             Submission
             to
             the
             Will
             of
             His
             Father
             .
             This
             is
             Implyed
             in
             those
             words
             ,
          
           if
           it
           be
           possible
           :
           
             That
             is
             ,
             to
             give
             it
             in
             the
             words
             of
          
           Grotius
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           Consistent
           with
           Thy
           Decrees
           ,
           that
           by
           any
           other
           Means
           Thy
           Glory
           ,
           and
           the
           Salvation
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           may
           be
           Equally
           Provided
           for
           .
           
             And
             this
             Condition
             ,
             we
             have
             in
             the
             Expressest
             terms
             in
             the
             latter
             part
             of
             that
             Verse
             ,
          
           Nevertheless
           not
           as
           I
           will
           but
           as
           Thou
           wilt
           .
           
             Again
             ,
             V.
          
           42.
           
           O
           
           my
           Father
           ,
           if
           this
           Cup
           may
           not
           pass
           away
           Except
           I
           drink
           it
           ,
           Thy
           Will
           be
           done
           .
           
             And
             V.
             44.
             it
             is
             said
             ,
          
           He
           went
           away
           and
           Prayed
           the
           third
           time
           ,
           Saying
           the
           same
           words
           .
        
         
           
             And
             the
             same
             Submission
             is
             Implyed
             in
             the
             Text
             first
             cited
             ;
             For
             after
             our
             Lord
             had
             said
             ,
          
           Father
           Save
           me
           from
           this
           Hour
           ,
           
             and
             so
             expressed
             His
          
           Natural
           
             Aversion
             thereunto
             ,
             it
             follows
          
           ,
           But
           for
           this
           Cause
           came
           I
           unto
           this
           Hour
           .
           
             Which
             is
             as
             much
             as
             to
             say
             ,
          
           But
           being
           assured
           that
           it
           is
           Thy
           Pleasure
           that
           I
           must
           undergo
           this
           terrible
           Death
           ,
           I
           heartily
           Submit
           .
           
             But
             there
             are
             others
             who
             read
             these
             words
             ,
          
           Father
           Save
           me
           from
           this
           Hour
           ,
           
             with
             an
             Interrogation
             Point
             ,
             &
             so
             they
             conceive
             Him
          
           thus
           
             to
             speak
          
           ,
           What
           shall
           I
           say
           ?
           Shall
           I
           say
           ,
           Father
           Save
           me
           from
           this
           Hour
           ?
           No
           I
           will
           not
           ,
           as
           well
           knowing
           that
           Thou
           hast
           determined
           otherwise
           .
        
         
           And
           it
           is
           evident
           ,
           that
           no
           Temporal
           Evils
           are
           to
           be
           prayed
           against
           otherwise
           ,
           in
           that
           Afflictions
           of
           one
           sort
           or
           other
           ,
           are
           such
           things
           ,
           as
           hath
           been
           shewed
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           Need
           of
           upon
           
           several
           Accounts
           ;
           and
           there
           is
           no
           particular
           Affliction
           but
           it
           is
           better
           for
           us
           to
           undergo
           it
           ,
           than
           to
           be
           without
           it
           ,
           for
           ought
           we
           know
           .
           We
           are
           therefore
           to
           refer
           our selves
           to
           the
           Unerring
           Wisdom
           of
           God
           ,
           who
           knows
           in
           all
           Circumstances
           what
           is
           best
           for
           us
           ,
           and
           best
           in
           it self
           ,
           after
           we
           have
           prayed
           Him
           to
           keep
           off
           such
           an
           Affliction
           ,
           or
           to
           remove
           it
           .
        
         
           It
           becomes
           us
           consequently
           not
           to
           Beg
           either
           ,
           Over-passionately
           and
           Vehemently
           :
           For
           this
           would
           be
           to
           prescribe
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           tell
           Him
           what
           is
           best
           .
           Those
           do
           no
           less
           than
           so
           ,
           who
           pray
           for
           Health
           or
           any
           outward
           Blessing
           for
           themselves
           or
           theirs
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           would
           have
           
             no
             Nay
          
           .
           Instead
           of
           so
           doing
           ,
           we
           ought
           heartily
           to
           endeavour
           to
           bring
           our
           Minds
           to
           a
           full
           Acquiescence
           in
           the
           Divine
           Wisdom
           and
           Goodness
           ;
           and
           to
           a
           Willingness
           to
           bear
           such
           or
           such
           an
           Affliction
           (
           with
           the
           Divine
           Assistance
           )
           if
           God
           sees
           it
           fit
           we
           should
           ;
           as
           knowing
           that
           what
           
             He
             seeth
          
           fit
           ,
           must
           necessarily
           be
           so
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           is
           Madness
           to
           be
           averse
           to
           what
           is
           so
           .
        
         
         
           And
           by
           this
           means
           shall
           we
           be
           able
           to
           say
           that
           our
           Petitions
           are
           never
           denyed
           .
           I
           mean
           ,
           when
           we
           pray
           with
           Submission
           ,
           and
           desire
           Absolutely
           nothing
           but
           what
           is
           best
           for
           us
           ,
           or
           rather
           what
           is
           best
           
             in
             it self
          
           ;
           which
           also
           will
           prove
           to
           be
           best
           for
           us
           ,
           when
           we
           are
           once
           brought
           to
           this
           happy
           Temper
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           said
           by
           the
           Author
           to
           the
           Hebrews
           ,
           That
           our
           Saviour
           
             was
             heard
             in
             that
             he
             feared
             .
          
           How
           was
           he
           heard
           ,
           since
           the
           bitter
           Cup
           of
           death
           did
           not
           pass
           from
           him
           ,
           but
           he
           did
           drink
           it
           ?
           Why
           ,
           he
           was
           heard
           ,
           as
           in
           other
           respects
           so
           in
           this
           ,
           that
           he
           Prayed
           against
           that
           Cursed
           death
           ,
           not
           Absolutely
           but
           Conditionally
           .
           And
           therefore
           he
           Prayed
           for
           it
           upon
           supposition
           that
           it
           was
           most
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Wise
           and
           Good
           Will
           of
           God
           that
           he
           should
           Suffer
           it
           :
           For
           we
           have
           seen
           that
           he
           said
           ,
           
             Not
             as
             I
             will
             but
             as
             Thou
             wilt
             .
          
        
         
           
             To
             this
             purpose
          
           ,
           
           
             I
             will
             present
             you
             with
             other
             most
             Excellent
             sayings
             of
             the
             last
             Cited
             Philosopher
             .
          
           Let
           us
           begin
           every
           thing
           without
           too
           Passionate
           
           a
           desire
           ,
           or
           an
           Over-great
           aversness
           .
           Let
           us
           behave
           our selves
           like
           a
           Traveller
           ,
           who
           when
           he
           comes
           where
           two
           Ways
           meet
           ,
           asks
           the
           first
           passenger
           which
           of
           them
           he
           shall
           take
           to
           such
           a
           Place
           ;
           having
           no
           inclination
           to
           the
           Right
           hand
           ,
           rather
           than
           to
           the
           Left
           :
           But
           desiring
           onely
           to
           understand
           the
           ready
           way
           to
           his
           Iourneys
           End.
           Iust
           so
           must
           we
           go
           to
           God
           ,
           as
           to
           our
           Guide
           ;
           as
           to
           One
           who
           ought
           to
           dispose
           of
           us
           as
           He
           Pleaseth
           .
           We
           must
           not
           direct
           Him
           ,
           what
           Course
           to
           take
           with
           us
           ,
           but
           embrace
           that
           which
           He
           Proposeth
           ,
           and
           desire
           only
           that
           He
           will
           Conduct
           us
           in
           the
           direct
           way
           to
           Happiness
           .
           This
           is
           our
           Duty
           and
           our
           Safety
           :
           Whereas
           now
           you
           shall
           see
           Men
           runing
           to
           Him
           ;
           Saying
           ,
           Lord
           have
           Mercy
           upon
           me
           ,
           Deliver
           me
           from
           such
           or
           such
           an
           Evil
           !
           Wretch
           that
           thou
           art
           ,
           wouldst
           thou
           have
           any
           thing
           but
           what
           is
           Best
           ;
           and
           who
           can
           tell
           what
           that
           is
           ?
           Is
           there
           any
           thing
           Best
           ,
           but
           what
           shall
           seem
           so
           to
           God
           ?
           Why
           dost
           thou
           endeavour
           to
           Corrupt
           Him
           ,
           who
           is
           thy
           Iudge
           ,
           and
           to
           Seduce
           Him
           who
           is
           thy
           Counceller
           ,
           and
           to
           move
           Him
           by
           thy
           Cries
           to
           do
           otherwise
           than
           He
           thinks
           sitting
           ?
           Suffer
           
           Him
           therefore
           to
           follow
           His
           own
           Wisdom
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           What
           Admirable
           Discourse
           is
           this
           !
           'T
           is
           most
           worthy
           of
           the
           highest
           rank
           of
           Christians
           .
           But
           yet
           it
           is
           not
           very
           Strange
           ,
           that
           it
           should
           come
           from
           the
           Pen
           of
           a
           Considerative
           Religious
           Pagan
           ;
           it
           being
           perfectly
           agreeable
           to
           Right
           Reason
           ,
           and
           necessarily
           to
           be
           inferred
           from
           a
           true
           Notion
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           very
           many
           of
           Them
           had
           .
        
         
           And
           Consequently
           what
           a
           Shame
           must
           it
           needs
           be
           to
           us
           Christians
           ,
           not
           heartily
           to
           Endeavour
           to
           get
           our
           Minds
           into
           this
           Frame
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           is
           a
           very
           Melancholy
           thing
           to
           consider
           ,
           that
           it
           should
           be
           so
           Extreamly
           difficult
           ,
           as
           we
           generally
           find
           it
           is
           ,
           so
           to
           master
           our
           Passions
           under
           great
           Afflictions
           ,
           as
           to
           bring
           our selves
           to
           an
           intire
           Acquiescence
           in
           the
           good
           Pleasure
           of
           God
           ;
           while
           we
           cannot
           but
           Acknowledge
           it
           to
           be
           the
           most
           Unreasonable
           thing
           imaginable
           ,
           not
           to
           rest
           well
           Satisfied
           therewith
           .
           And
           that
           it
           should
           be
           even
           next
           to
           impossible
           ,
           without
           an
           Extraordinary
           measure
           of
           
           the
           Divine
           Grace
           ,
           to
           make
           our
           Minds
           Easie
           under
           Such
           Afflictions
           (
           and
           especially
           for
           those
           who
           are
           of
           Unhappy
           Bodily
           Tempers
           ,
           be
           they
           never
           so
           good
           Christians
           )
           but
           by
           the
           help
           of
           Time
           ,
           which
           without
           the
           help
           of
           Reason
           ,
           will
           much
           deaden
           the
           sense
           of
           any
           Affliction
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           it
           is
           alike
           difficult
           not
           to
           Pray
           against
           such
           Evils
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           Naturally
           inclined
           most
           to
           dread
           ,
           
             over
             Vehemently
          
           ,
           and
           with
           less
           Submission
           than
           becomes
           us
           .
        
         
           But
           God
           is
           so
           Good
           ,
           as
           to
           consider
           our
           Frame
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           Abatements
           for
           our
           natural
           infirmities
           ,
           so
           long
           as
           we
           do
           not
           give
           our selves
           leave
           to
           Repine
           and
           Murmur
           at
           any
           of
           His
           Providences
           .
        
         
           One
           of
           the
           Philosophers
           ,
           I
           think
           Epictetus
           ,
           adviseth
           never
           to
           Pray
           to
           God
           ,
           for
           any
           External
           Blessings
           in
           Particular
           ,
           but
           only
           that
           he
           would
           do
           for
           us
           in
           the
           general
           what
           is
           Best
           .
           And
           such
           a
           Sence
           may
           be
           put
           upon
           One
           or
           Two
           of
           the
           last
           recited
           Sayings
           ,
           tho'
           they
           do
           not
           necessarily
           imply
           it
           .
           But
           he
           was
           so
           careful
           to
           avoid
           One
           
           Extreme
           ,
           as
           to
           run
           into
           Another
           ,
           tho'
           the
           safer
           of
           the
           Two.
           For
           we
           are
           sufficiently
           warranted
           by
           the
           
             H.
             Scriptures
          
           (
           and
           therefore
           that
           Extreme
           was
           very
           pardonable
           in
           those
           who
           were
           unacquainted
           with
           them
           )
           to
           ask
           for
           particular
           Outward
           Blessings
           ;
           tho
           with
           great
           Care
           to
           do
           it
           with
           Resignation
           to
           the
           Wise
           Will
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           
             And
             it
             is
             very
             wonderful
             to
             see
             ,
             how
          
           Epictetus
           could
           himself
           take
           
             that
             forementioned
             Advice
             ,
             which
             he
             gave
             to
          
           Others
           ,
           
             in
             this
             following
             Address
             he
             made
             to
             the
             Supreme
             Deity
             ,
          
           viz.
           Did
           I
           ever
           find
           fault
           with
           Thy
           Government
           ?
           I
           was
           Sick
           when
           Thou
           wouldst
           have
           me
           to
           be
           so
           ,
           and
           so
           are
           Others
           ,
           but
           I
           was
           willingly
           Sick.
           I
           was
           always
           Poor
           at
           Thy
           Appointment
           ,
           but
           Rejoycing
           .
           I
           never
           was
           a
           Magistrate
           ,
           nor
           had
           any
           Dignity
           ,
           because
           Thou
           wouldest
           not
           have
           me
           ,
           and
           I
           never
           desired
           it
           .
           Didst
           Thou
           ever
           see
           me
           the
           more
           out
           of
           Humour
           ,
           or
           Cast
           down
           for
           this
           ?
           Have
           I
           ever
           appeared
           before
           Thee
           with
           a
           discontented
           Countenance
           ?
           Was
           I
           not
           always
           prepared
           and
           ready
           for
           whatsoever
           Thou
           Requiredst
           ?
           
           Wilt
           Thou
           have
           me
           depart
           out
           of
           this
           Festival
           Solemnity
           ,
           I
           am
           ready
           to
           go
           ;
           and
           I
           give
           Thee
           all
           Thanks
           for
           having
           Honoured
           me
           so
           far
           ,
           as
           to
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           keep
           the
           Feast
           with
           Thee
           ,
           and
           Behold
           Thy
           Works
           ,
           and
           Observe
           Thy
           Government
           of
           the
           World.
           Let
           Death
           seize
           on
           me
           no
           otherwise
           employed
           ,
           than
           thus
           thinking
           and
           writing
           of
           such
           things
           .
        
         
           
             And
             he
          
           thus
           
             Appealed
             to
             his
             Acquaintants
          
           ,
           
           Behold
           I
           am
           an
           Exile
           ,
           without
           House
           ,
           without
           Servants
           ,
           I
           lye
           upon
           the
           Ground
           ,
           I
           have
           no
           Wife
           ,
           no
           Children
           ,
           &c.
           
           But
           when
           did
           you
           ever
           hear
           me
           Accuse
           either
           God
           or
           Man
           ?
           When
           did
           I
           ever
           Complain
           of
           any
           one
           ?
           Have
           ever
           any
           one
           of
           you
           seen
           me
           with
           a
           Sad
           Countenance
           ?
           
             O
             how
             few
             Christians
             can
             for
             bear
             Blushing
             at
             the
             reading
             of
          
           these
           Passages
           !
        
         
           And
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           of
           Private
           and
           Personal
           Evils
           ,
           is
           as
           true
           of
           Publick
           and
           National
           .
           These
           neither
           are
           to
           be
           deprecated
           Absolutely
           ;
           for
           they
           are
           designed
           no
           less
           for
           the
           good
           of
           Nations
           and
           Bodies
           Politick
           ,
           than
           
           the
           other
           are
           for
           the
           good
           of
           particular
           Persons
           .
           
             When
             Thy
             Iudgements
             are
             abroad
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             the
             In●abitants
             thereof
             will
             learn
             Righteousness
             ,
          
           saith
           the
           Prophet
           ,
           Isaiah
           26.
           9.
           
           And
           that
           for
           this
           end
           they
           are
           inflicted
           we
           are
           abundantly
           assured
           .
           No
           Calamity
           short
           of
           utter
           Destruction
           ,
           ought
           otherwise
           to
           be
           interpreted
           ,
           than
           as
           designed
           for
           the
           Reformation
           of
           those
           Kingdoms
           ,
           Cities
           ,
           and
           other
           Societies
           on
           which
           they
           fall
           .
        
         
           And
           God
           hath
           Threatned
           it
           as
           an
           high
           Expression
           of
           His
           displeasure
           ,
           that
           He
           will
           not
           Punish
           a
           Wicked
           People
           ;
           nor
           certainly
           can
           there
           be
           an
           higher
           on
           this
           side
           Hell.
           As
           
             Hosea
             4.
             14.
             
             I
             will
             not
             Punish
             your
             Daughters
             when
             they
             commit
             Whoredom
             ;
             nor
             your
             Spouses
             ,
             when
             they
             commit
             Adultery
             .
          
           And
           
             Ver.
             17.
             
             Ephraim
             is
             joyned
             to
             Idols
             ,
             let
             him
             alone
             .
          
           And
           nothing
           more
           Severe
           could
           well
           come
           out
           of
           the
           Mouth
           of
           God
           Almighty
           ,
           than
           those
           words
           ,
           
             Isaiah
             1.
             5.
             
             Why
             should
             you
             be
             Smitten
             any
             more
             ?
             You
             will
             Revolt
             more
             and
             more
             .
          
        
         
           And
           therefore
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           in
           our
           intercessions
           
           for
           the
           diverting
           or
           removing
           of
           General
           Judgments
           ,
           we
           must
           beware
           of
           prescribing
           to
           God
           :
           In
           Praying
           for
           which
           ,
           without
           any
           Conditions
           Expressed
           or
           Implyed
           ,
           we
           make
           our selves
           Wiser
           than
           infinite
           Wisdom
           .
           And
           in
           so
           doing
           ,
           we
           may
           Curse
           our Selves
           and
           our
           Country
           ,
           when
           we
           think
           we
           Pray
           for
           both
           .
        
         
           We
           do
           now
           seem
           generally
           impatiently
           desirous
           to
           have
           a
           Conclusion
           put
           to
           this
           Bloody
           and
           
             Expensive
             War
          
           ;
           but
           yet
           we
           may
           not
           Pray
           Absolutely
           for
           it
           ,
           because
           we
           are
           far
           from
           knowing
           that
           it
           will
           prove
           best
           for
           us
           to
           have
           our
           Prayers
           granted
           .
           Nay
           indeed
           we
           have
           too
           great
           reason
           to
           fear
           it
           will
           not
           ,
           since
           this
           heavy
           Scourg
           hath
           wrought
           no
           visible
           Reformation
           upon
           us
           :
           And
           that
           the
           Consequence
           of
           a
           Peace
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           total
           Removal
           of
           our
           Fears
           from
           Abroad
           ,
           may
           be
           an
           Occasion
           (
           Considering
           how
           many
           Unquiet
           and
           Restless
           Spirits
           we
           have
           among
           us
           )
           of
           running
           us
           into
           Confusion
           at
           Home
           :
           Which
           is
           not
           much
           less
           dreadful
           to
           think
           of
           ,
           than
           falling
           into
           the
           Clutches
           of
           our
           
             Common
             
             Enemy
          
           ;
           and
           which
           (
           without
           a
           Miraculous
           interposition
           of
           Providence
           ,
           which
           it
           would
           be
           Madness
           to
           expect
           )
           must
           inevitably
           make
           us
           a
           Prey
           to
           his
           Teeth
           ;
           and
           fasten
           for
           ever
           ,
           at
           least
           for
           this
           Age
           ,
           our
           Chains
           upon
           us
           .
           But
           if
           this
           should
           not
           be
           the
           Effect
           of
           a
           Peace
           before
           we
           more
           deserve
           it
           ,
           and
           are
           better
           Prepared
           for
           it
           ,
           God
           hath
           Plagues
           enough
           for
           a
           People
           
             who
             hate
             to
             be
             Reformed
          
           ,
           which
           may
           make
           them
           as
           Miserable
           as
           any
           War
           can
           do
           .
           And
           so
           we
           pass
           to
           our
           
             Second
             Inference
          
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           We
           learn
           from
           what
           hath
           been
           discoursed
           ,
           how
           great
           a
           Folly
           it
           is
           for
           a
           man
           to
           Judge
           himself
           or
           others
           to
           be
           out
           of
           Gods
           Favour
           ,
           because
           much
           Afflicted
           .
           If
           Afflictions
           were
           in
           
             all
             respects
          
           Evils
           ,
           this
           ought
           to
           be
           Concluded
           .
           But
           it
           hath
           been
           shewed
           that
           ,
           as
           they
           come
           from
           God's
           Hand
           ,
           they
           are
           good
           things
           :
           That
           there
           is
           not
           only
           a
           Good
           Design
           in
           them
           but
           the
           Best
           of
           Designs
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           are
           things
           apt
           
             in
             their
             own
             nature
          
           ,
           to
           promote
           our
           greatest
           Good.
           
        
         
         
           Those
           look
           no
           farther
           than
           the
           Pain
           and
           Smart
           of
           an
           Affliction
           ,
           that
           Conclude
           it
           an
           Expression
           of
           God's
           Ill-Will
           .
           They
           fix
           their
           Eye
           only
           upon
           the
           dark
           side
           of
           the
           Cloud
           ,
           and
           take
           no
           notice
           of
           the
           bright
           side
           .
           They
           are
           People
           of
           very
           little
           Thought
           ,
           and
           Consideration
           ;
           otherwise
           they
           would
           easily
           call
           to
           mind
           ,
           that
           nothing
           is
           more
           common
           among
           our selves
           ,
           than
           Correcting
           and
           Chastising
           from
           a
           principle
           of
           Love
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           greatest
           Love
           :
           Than
           putting
           to
           Pain
           from
           the
           greatest
           Good-Will
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           most
           Charitable
           Purposes
           .
        
         
           They
           would
           also
           ,
           if
           they
           used
           themselves
           to
           Thinking
           ,
           Consider
           that
           nothing
           makes
           People
           so
           Serious
           ,
           or
           so
           brings
           them
           to
           their
           rightminds
           ,
           as
           Afflictions
           .
           And
           they
           could
           not
           (
           if
           well
           acquainted
           with
           the
           Bible
           )
           but
           think
           of
           such
           Texts
           as
           
             these
             :
             Whom
             the
             Lord
             loveth
             he
             Correcteth
             ,
             as
             a
             Father
             the
             Son
             in
             whom
             he
             delighteth
             ,
          
           Prov.
           3.
           12.
           
           
             Happy
             is
             the
             man
             whom
             God
             Correcteth
             ,
          
           Job
           .
           5.
           17.
           
           
             Whom
             the
             Lord
             loveth
             He
             Chastneth
             ,
             and
             Scourgeth
             every
             Son
             whom
             He
             receiveth
             ,
          
           Heb.
           12.
           6
           ,
           7.
           
        
         
         
           If
           it
           be
           Replyed
           ,
           That
           tho'
           every
           Affliction
           is
           no
           sign
           of
           a
           persons
           being
           out
           of
           the
           Favour
           of
           God
           ,
           yet
           being
           exercised
           with
           frequent
           ,
           long
           and
           sharp
           Afflictions
           ,
           seems
           not
           consistent
           with
           His
           Love
           :
           Those
           who
           make
           This
           Reply
           ,
           need
           only
           to
           be
           minded
           ,
           of
           the
           Calamities
           which
           fell
           on
           Iob
           ;
           who
           being
           declared
           by
           God
           Himself
           to
           be
           an
           Upright
           ,
           &
           most
           Exemplarily
           Good
           Man
           ,
           could
           not
           but
           be
           His
           Extraordinary
           Favourite
           :
           Or
           of
           the
           Terrible
           Afflictions
           with
           which
           King
           David
           ,
           tho'
           a
           Man
           
             after
             God's
             own
             Heart
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Prophet
           Ieremiah
           ,
           and
           many
           other
           of
           the
           Best
           Men
           in
           the
           Old
           Testament
           ,
           were
           exercised
           :
           And
           those
           of
           the
           Great
           St.
           Paul
           and
           others
           ,
           which
           we
           read
           of
           in
           the
           New.
           
        
         
           Nay
           ,
           those
           who
           think
           there
           are
           such
           Temporal
           Evils
           ,
           as
           cannot
           consist
           with
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           ,
           must
           believe
           that
           His
           Onely
           Begotten
           Son
           ,
           was
           an
           Object
           of
           His
           Hatred
           .
        
         
           But
           God's
           Hatred
           is
           so
           far
           from
           being
           to
           be
           concluded
           from
           any
           Evils
           that
           here
           befal
           us
           ,
           that
           we
           cannot
           certainly
           conclude
           so
           much
           as
           His
           
           Anger
           from
           
             any
             whatsoever
          
           ,
           without
           taking
           in
           other
           Considerations
           ,
           besides
           that
           of
           the
           Nature
           of
           those
           Evils
           .
           For
           we
           have
           seen
           that
           they
           come
           from
           God's
           Hand
           ,
           for
           diverse
           other
           Ends
           besides
           that
           of
           Punishing
           for
           Sin.
           And
           this
           may
           be
           said
           even
           of
           the
           greatest
           that
           are
           of
           a
           mere
           Temporal
           Nature
           .
           For
           we
           do
           not
           find
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           any
           thing
           of
           Punishment
           in
           
           Iob's
           Calamities
           ;
           and
           we
           are
           certain
           there
           was
           nothing
           of
           it
           ,
           in
           our
           
           Saviour's
           Sufferings
           .
           That
           is
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           be
           inflicted
           upon
           the
           Account
           of
           any
           Displeasure
           He
           had
           given
           to
           His
           Heavenly
           Father
           ,
           because
           in
           
             Him
             was
             no
             Sin.
          
           
        
         
           And
           considering
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           upon
           this
           Subject
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           no
           unaccountable
           thing
           ,
           if
           none
           were
           ever
           so
           Afflicted
           as
           God's
           Children
           .
           No
           nor
           if
           His
           dearest
           Children
           ,
           that
           is
           the
           best
           CHRISTIANS
           ,
           and
           those
           who
           have
           arrived
           to
           the
           highest
           degrees
           of
           Virtue
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           should
           be
           always
           most
           Afflicted
           of
           any
           of
           His
           Children
           .
           This
           would
           be
           no
           perplexing
           Providence
           ,
           because
           
           such
           would
           make
           the
           best
           Examples
           to
           the
           World
           of
           bearing
           Afflictions
           ,
           of
           Patience
           ,
           chearful
           and
           thankful
           Submission
           to
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           under
           them
           .
        
         
           Nor
           would
           they
           judge
           themselves
           upon
           a
           little
           sedate
           thinking
           ,
           hardly
           dealt
           with
           ,
           if
           the
           
             better
             Christians
          
           they
           are
           ,
           the
           more
           they
           should
           be
           Afflicted
           ,
           because
           
             they
             look
             not
             at
             the
             things
             that
             are
             seen
             ,
          
           as
           the
           Apostle
           speaks
           ,
           
             but
             at
             the
             things
             that
             are
             not
             seen
             :
             The
             things
             that
             are
             seen
             being
             Temporal
             ,
             but
             the
             things
             that
             are
             not
             seen
             ,
             Eternal
             .
          
           They
           know
           that
           they
           shall
           have
           an
           Abundant
           Recompence
           made
           them
           hereafter
           ,
           for
           all
           their
           Sufferings
           
             here
             :
             That
             they
             are
             not
             worthy
             ,
          
           as
           the
           same
           Apostle
           saith
           ,
           
             to
             be
             compared
             with
             the
             Glory
             ,
             which
             shall
             be
             revealed
             in
             them
             :
          
           That
           the
           extraordinariness
           of
           their
           Afflictions
           for
           a
           short
           time
           ,
           shall
           (
           through
           the
           Merits
           of
           their
           Saviour
           )
           procure
           to
           them
           an
           extraordinary
           degree
           of
           Heavenly
           Bliss
           to
           all
           Eternity
           .
        
         
           And
           they
           find
           also
           ,
           especially
           if
           their
           Sufferings
           be
           for
           Righteousness
           
           sake
           ,
           supports
           at
           present
           suitable
           to
           their
           Burdens
           ;
           and
           that
           
             as
             their
             Sufferings
          
           abound
           ,
           their
           Consolations
           abound
           likewise
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           we
           see
           what
           a
           weak
           thing
           it
           is
           ,
           to
           have
           the
           worse
           Opinion
           of
           our
           Spiritual
           Estate
           ,
           or
           to
           conclude
           our selves
           out
           of
           the
           Divine
           Favour
           ,
           upon
           the
           Account
           of
           our
           being
           much
           afflicted
           :
           And
           how
           Unchristian
           a
           thing
           it
           is
           ,
           to
           pass
           ,
           like
           
           Iob's
           Friends
           ,
           severe
           Censures
           on
           others
           upon
           the
           like
           Accounts
           .
        
         
           
             I
             could
             Name
             one
             of
             the
             most
             Eminent
             Persons
             ,
             and
             Christians
             too
             ,
             of
             the
             Age
             he
             lived
             in
             ,
             who
             was
             so
             far
             from
             looking
             upon
             great
             Afflictions
             ,
             as
             a
             Sign
             of
             God's
             Hatred
             ,
             or
             Displeasure
             ,
             that
             one
             Day
             reading
             the
             12th
             .
             to
             the
             Hebrews
             ,
             where
             it
             is
             said
             ,
             
               If
               ye
               be
               without
               Chastisement
               ,
               whereof
               all
               are
               Partakers
               ,
               then
               are
               ye
               Bastards
               and
               not
               Sons
               ,
            
             &c.
             fell
             into
             a
             deep
             Melancholy
             concerning
             his
             own
             state
             ,
             because
             he
             did
             not
             then
             remember
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             ever
             had
             any
             very
             Remarkable
             Affliction
             .
             Which
             being
             observed
             by
             
             a
             Friend
             of
             his
             ,
             he
             humbly
             desired
             to
             know
             of
             him
             the
             Cause
             of
             the
             great
             pensiveness
             he
             discerned
             in
             his
             Countenance
             .
             And
             having
             his
             Request
             satisfied
             ,
             he
             Replyed
             ,
             That
             he
             wondred
             his
             Memory
             should
             so
             fail
             him
             ,
             since
             he
             was
             fallen
             (
             through
             the
             Iniquity
             of
             the
             Times
             )
             from
             most
             plentiful
             to
             low
             Circumstances
             .
             The
             Good
             Man
             not
             acknowledging
             this
             to
             be
             any
             great
             Affliction
             ,
             because
             God
             had
             still
             taken
             such
             Care
             of
             him
             as
             that
             he
             never
             wanted
             ,
             his
             Friend
             minded
             him
             of
             a
             Great
             One
             indeed
             ,
             (
             which
             it
             is
             much
             he
             should
             at
             any
             time
             forget
             )
             which
             gave
             case
             to
             his
             Mind
             .
          
           But
           this
           Great
           Man
           was
           herein
           guilty
           of
           the
           Other
           Extreme
           ,
           not
           considering
           those
           words
           of
           K.
           
             Solomon
             ,
             No
             man
             knoweth
             Love
             or
             Hatred
             by
             all
             that
             is
             before
             him
             .
          
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           foresaid
           Words
           of
           the
           Author
           to
           the
           Hebrews
           ,
           and
           that
           saying
           of
           St.
           
             Paul
             ,
             we
             must
             through
             much
             Tribulation
             enter
             into
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             :
          
           And
           that
           other
           ,
           
             All
             that
             will
             live
             godly
             in
             Christ
             Iesus
             ,
             must
             suffer
             persecution
             ,
          
           they
           had
           doubtless
           a
           special
           
           relation
           to
           that
           Time
           when
           they
           were
           spoken
           .
           When
           a
           Man
           could
           not
           make
           Profession
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           adhere
           thereto
           ,
           but
           he
           must
           expect
           to
           suffer
           greatly
           for
           it
           .
           Tho'
           the
           World
           was
           never
           yet
           I
           doubt
           so
           good
           ,
           as
           that
           there
           hath
           been
           a
           Time
           when
           this
           could
           not
           be
           truly
           said
           ,
           
             The
             greater
             Conscience
             Men
             make
             of
             their
             ways
             ,
             and
             the
             more
             strictly
             they
             keep
             to
             the
             Rules
             of
             Righteousness
             and
             Goodness
             ,
             the
             more
             Trouble
             they
             must
             make
             Account
             of
             :
          
           Especially
           when
           it
           relates
           to
           Persons
           in
           publick
           Stations
           .
           Tho'
           it
           must
           be
           acknowledged
           too
           ,
           that
           these
           Mens
           Troubles
           are
           not
           to
           be
           compared
           with
           those
           ,
           in
           which
           the
           bold
           Transgressors
           of
           those
           Rules
           are
           ,
           in
           a
           well
           Governed
           Nation
           ,
           frequently
           involved
           .
        
         
           In
           short
           ,
           We
           are
           to
           judge
           of
           
             our
             own
          
           Spiritual
           Estate
           ,
           by
           considering
           how
           it
           is
           within
           us
           ,
           not
           without
           us
           .
           And
           we
           are
           to
           judge
           of
           Others
           ,
           as
           to
           that
           State
           ,
           by
           their
           Lives
           and
           Manners
           ,
           not
           by
           their
           Outward
           Circumstances
           .
           This
           Rule
           our
           Blessed
           Lord
           hath
           taught
           us
           ,
           in
           the
           Beginning
           
           of
           the
           Thirteenth
           Chapter
           of
           St.
           
           Luke's
           Gospel
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           I
           Infer
           from
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           upon
           this
           Subject
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           a
           part
           of
           great
           Wisdom
           ,
           to
           be
           ,
           when
           we
           are
           in
           the
           most
           easie
           Circumstances
           ,
           often
           thinking
           of
           a
           Change
           ,
           and
           preparing
           our selves
           for
           New
           Afflictions
           .
           This
           will
           be
           a
           means
           to
           make
           them
           much
           easier
           to
           be
           born
           when
           they
           come
           ;
           and
           may
           be
           a
           means
           to
           prevent
           their
           coming
           ,
           because
           by
           thus
           doing
           we
           must
           needs
           have
           so
           much
           the
           less
           Need
           of
           them
           .
           But
           the
           more
           we
           need
           one
           Affliction
           or
           other
           ,
           the
           more
           reason
           have
           we
           to
           expect
           it
           ,
           from
           the
           Consideration
           even
           of
           the
           Divine
           Goodness
           .
        
         
           And
           Good
           People
           should
           make
           the
           less
           Account
           of
           any
           Long
           Uninterrupted
           Prosperity
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           because
           they
           have
           not
           their
           Portion
           here
           ,
           as
           the
           Wicked
           have
           .
           And
           it
           is
           very
           unreasonable
           for
           those
           to
           presume
           upon
           a
           kind
           of
           Heaven
           here
           ,
           who
           upon
           the
           best
           Grounds
           do
           hope
           for
           a
           Heaven
           hereafter
           ;
           and
           to
           conclude
           
           on
           passing
           through
           Temporal
           Pleasures
           to
           Eternal
           Ones
           .
        
         
           We
           ought
           in
           all
           reason
           ,
           if
           we
           think
           Heaven
           our
           Home
           ,
           to
           be
           very
           well
           satisfied
           ,
           to
           live
           on
           Earth
           like
           
             Pilgrims
             and
             Strangers
          
           .
           As
           the
           Apostle
           saith
           the
           Good
           
             Patriarchs
             Confessed
          
           themselves
           to
           be
           ,
           Heb.
           11.
           13.
           
        
         
           If
           we
           look
           upon
           Heaven
           as
           our
           Everlasting
           Rest
           ,
           how
           can
           we
           so
           much
           as
           hope
           ,
           that
           our
           Condition
           here
           will
           be
           better
           than
           that
           of
           Travellers
           ?
           Who
           use
           to
           make
           full
           Account
           of
           a
           deal
           of
           Rugged
           and
           Foul
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           Smooth
           and
           Clean
           Way
           ;
           Who
           expect
           not
           to
           have
           Dry
           and
           Serene
           Weather
           always
           ,
           nor
           scarcely
           for
           the
           most
           part
           ;
           who
           are
           not
           at
           all
           surprized
           at
           Rain
           ,
           Wind
           and
           Storms
           ,
           as
           
             if
             some
             strange
             thing
             happened
             to
             them
             .
          
           Nor
           do
           they
           think
           themselves
           Unhappy
           ,
           if
           they
           meet
           with
           more
           Scorching
           Heat
           ,
           than
           Cool
           Shade
           ;
           or
           with
           more
           Uncivil
           than
           Kind
           and
           Courteous
           Usage
           in
           a
           Strange
           Country
           ,
           so
           long
           as
           they
           hope
           to
           get
           safe
           to
           their
           Journeys
           End
           ;
           and
           know
           that
           they
           shall
           find
           all
           things
           there
           most
           agreeable
           
           to
           their
           desires
           ,
           and
           to
           their
           hearts
           Content
           .
        
         
           Good
           Christians
           need
           not
           be
           minded
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Captain
             of
             their
             Salvation
          
           Himself
           
             was
             made
             Perfect
             by
             Sufferings
          
           ;
           as
           the
           Apostle
           saith
           ,
           Heb.
           2.
           10.
           
           That
           He
           took
           the
           Cross
           in
           the
           way
           to
           His
           Crown
           .
           That
           
             He
             was
             a
             Man
             of
             Sorrows
             and
             acquainted
             with
             Grief
          
           before
           He
           could
           enter
           upon
           the
           possession
           of
           
             That
             Ioy
             which
             was
             set
             before
             Him
             :
          
           That
           
             He
             entred
             into
             the
             Kingdom
             of
          
           Heaven
           ,
           
             through
             much
             Tribulation
          
           .
        
         
           Nor
           can
           they
           think
           that
           GOD
           hath
           any
           Reason
           ,
           to
           be
           more
           Tender
           of
           them
           than
           of
           His
           Dear
           Son
           ;
           nor
           imagine
           themselves
           ill
           dealt
           with
           ,
           if
           it
           fareth
           no
           worse
           with
           them
           than
           it
           did
           with
           Him.
           Or
           ,
           if
           God
           will
           have
           them
           go
           the
           same
           Uneasie
           Way
           to
           Eternal
           Bliss
           ,
           that
           He
           went.
           They
           can
           not
           see
           the
           least
           Cause
           to
           complain
           ,
           if
           He
           will
           have
           the
           Members
           to
           be
           conformed
           to
           their
           Head
           in
           all
           respects
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           in
           the
           World
           to
           come
           .
        
         
           Those
           are
           therefore
           very
           imprudent
           ,
           that
           because
           of
           their
           having
           
           suffered
           Severe
           things
           ,
           presume
           upon
           a
           long
           Respite
           from
           the
           like
           again
           .
           It
           is
           possible
           they
           may
           have
           such
           a
           Respite
           ,
           but
           it
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           with
           any
           Confidence
           Expected
           ;
           because
           there
           is
           no
           Reason
           on
           which
           to
           found
           such
           an
           Expectation
           ,
           as
           hath
           been
           shewed
           .
        
         
           And
           (
           by
           the
           way
           )
           it
           would
           be
           a
           very
           great
           Folly
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           the
           Publick
           ,
           to
           Conclude
           upon
           Happy
           Times
           ,
           if
           we
           were
           once
           eased
           of
           our
           present
           Burdens
           and
           Complaints
           ,
           and
           Effectually
           Secured
           from
           our
           present
           Fears
           .
           For
           when
           we
           are
           biggest
           with
           hopes
           of
           a
           most
           Prosperous
           State
           of
           Affairs
           ,
           and
           that
           
             God
             will
             make
             us
             Glad
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             days
             wherein
             he
             hath
             Afflicted
             us
             ,
             and
             the
             years
             wherein
             we
             have
             seen
             Evil
             ,
          
           some
           unthought
           of
           Calamity
           may
           Suddenly
           Seize
           us
           ;
           as
           we
           have
           again
           and
           again
           found
           by
           Experience
           .
           For
           how
           often
           have
           we
           seen
           cause
           to
           say
           with
           the
           Prophet
           ,
           
             We
             looked
             for
             Peace
             ,
             but
             no
             good
             came
             ;
             and
             for
             a
             time
             of
             Health
             ,
             but
             behold
             Trouble
             !
             Ier.
          
           8.
           15.
           
           And
           to
           allude
           
           to
           that
           in
           the
           18
           th
           .
           V.
           
             Many
             a
             time
             ,
             when
             we
             have
             been
             Comforting
             our selves
             against
             more
             Sorrow
             ,
          
           there
           hath
           presently
           happ●ned
           one
           Cross
           thing
           or
           other
           ,
           which
           hath
           Caused
           
             our
             Hearts
             to
             Faint
             in
             us
             .
          
           And
           so
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           for
           the
           future
           with
           us
           ,
           if
           we
           continue
           as
           Unreformed
           as
           Ever
           .
           Except
           our
           Good
           God
           should
           give
           us
           Over
           ,
           for
           an
           Obdurate
           and
           incorrigible
           People
           ,
           and
           no
           farther
           concern
           Himself
           for
           our
           Amendment
           .
           But
           ,
           as
           hath
           been
           intimated
           ,
           this
           is
           the
           Saddest
           of
           all
           Judgments
           ;
           and
           it
           speaks
           Eternal
           Destruction
           to
           be
           Sealed
           upon
           those
           People
           ,
           upon
           whom
           it
           lighteth
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           return
           to
           the
           Matter
           in
           hand
           ;
           We
           seeing
           so
           great
           Reason
           ,
           while
           we
           remain
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           to
           look
           for
           New
           Afflictions
           ,
           it
           greatly
           Concerns
           us
           to
           be
           still
           preparing
           our selves
           for
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           not
           come
           upon
           us
           before
           we
           are
           Aware
           .
           For
           whensoever
           they
           do
           so
           ,
           we
           shall
           find
           them
           so
           much
           the
           Heavier
           and
           more
           ●ntolerable
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           requires
           
           much
           the
           longer
           time
           for
           the
           so
           subduing
           our
           Passions
           to
           our
           Reason
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           able
           to
           demean
           our selves
           decently
           ,
           and
           as
           becomes
           Men
           ,
           and
           much
           more
           as
           becomes
           Christians
           ,
           under
           them
           .
        
         
           As
           the
           Son
           of
           Sirach
           saith
           ,
           
             Eccles.
             41.
             1.
             
             O
             Death
             ,
             how
             bitter
             is
             the
             Remembrance
             of
             thee
             ,
             to
             a
             Man
             that
             liveth
             at
             Rest
             in
             his
             Possessions
             ;
             unto
             the
             Man
             who
             hath
             nothing
             to
             Vex
             him
             ,
             and
             that
             hath
             Prosperity
             in
             all
             things
             !
          
           So
           may
           it
           be
           said
           ,
           How
           bitter
           ,
           how
           unsupportable
           ,
           is
           a
           great
           Affliction
           to
           a
           Man
           ,
           when
           it
           falleth
           upon
           him
           all
           of
           a
           Suddain
           ;
           when
           he
           thought
           of
           nothing
           less
           ,
           than
           Afflictions
           !
           How
           Weak
           doth
           a
           Sad
           Providence
           find
           a
           Man
           ,
           when
           at
           the
           time
           of
           its
           comming
           he
           had
           
             Put
             far
             from
             him
             the
             Evil
             day
             ,
          
           and
           did
           not
           in
           the
           least
           dream
           of
           any
           Alteration
           of
           his
           Condition
           !
        
         
           What
           a
           Horrible
           Surprize
           must
           it
           have
           been
           to
           the
           
             Rich
             man
          
           in
           the
           Gospel
           (
           had
           it
           been
           no
           Parable
           but
           a
           real
           History
           )
           to
           hear
           those
           words
           ,
           
             Thou
             Foool
             this
             night
             shall
             thy
             Soul
             be
             required
             of
             thee
             ,
             then
             whose
             shall
             those
             
             Things
             be
             ,
             which
             thou
             hast
             Provided
             ?
          
           at
           that
           very
           instant
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           saying
           to
           himself
           ,
           
             Thou
             hast
             Goods
             laid
             up
             for
             many
             Years
             ;
             Take
             thine
             Ease
             ,
             Eat
             ,
             Drink
             and
             be
             Merry
             !
          
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           I
           infer
           from
           the
           Text
           ,
           what
           a
           Wonderfully
           Powerful
           Motive
           ,
           the
           Hopes
           we
           have
           of
           Receiving
           such
           Glorious
           Things
           in
           the
           Future
           life
           ,
           must
           needs
           be
           ,
           
             To
             Receive
             Evil
             things
             at
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
          
           in
           this
           life
           .
           If
           our
           Receiving
           the
           Good
           things
           of
           this
           Present
           State
           ,
           be
           such
           a
           Motive
           thereto
           as
           hath
           been
           shewed
           ,
           then
           What
           a
           Motive
           is
           that
           of
           the
           Hope
           of
           infinitely
           better
           Things
           in
           that
           to
           come
           !
        
         
           I
           Confess
           that
           the
           Motive
           in
           the
           Text
           hath
           the
           Advantage
           ,
           as
           the
           Matter
           there
           of
           is
           Things
           present
           ,
           and
           the
           Matter
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           Things
           to
           come
           :
           But
           considering
           all
           the
           other
           differences
           ,
           between
           these
           two
           sorts
           of
           Good
           things
           ;
           and
           that
           there
           is
           the
           greatest
           assurance
           imaginable
           given
           to
           good
           People
           ,
           of
           their
           hereafter
           Receiving
           those
           Good
           things
           ,
           there
           is
           
           no
           Comparison
           to
           be
           made
           between
           this
           and
           that
           Motive
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           impossible
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           think
           God
           a
           Severe
           Master
           ,
           let
           him
           meet
           with
           never
           so
           many
           Evil
           things
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           who
           hath
           a
           Sure
           and
           Certain
           Hope
           of
           
             Ere
             long
          
           Receiving
           such
           Good
           things
           ,
           as
           
             Pass
             all
             Vnderstanding
          
           :
           As
           
             the
             Eye
             of
             Man
             never
             saw
             ,
             nor
             his
             Ear
             ever
             heard
             ,
             nor
             his
             Heart
             is
             able
             to
             Conceive
          
           any
           like
           unto
           them
           .
        
         
           It
           must
           needs
           make
           this
           
             Vale
             of
             Tears
          
           ,
           not
           only
           a
           Tolerable
           but
           a
           Pleasant
           Place
           ,
           to
           Consider
           ,
           that
           at
           the
           End
           thereof
           is
           the
           
             Mount
             of
             Ioy
             :
             Of
             Ioy
             Vnspeakable
             and
             full
             of
             Glory
             .
          
           And
           that
           these
           (
           comparatively
           speaking
           )
           
             Light
             Afflictions
             which
             are
             but
             for
             a
             Moment
             ,
             will
             work
             out
             for
             us
          
           (
           if
           we
           are
           not
           inexcusably
           wanting
           to
           our selves
           )
           
             a
             far
             more
             exceeding
             and
             Eternal
             weight
             of
             Glory
             .
          
        
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           I
           infer
           ,
           How
           unreasonable
           it
           is
           ,
           to
           have
           the
           lower
           and
           more
           undervaluing
           thoughts
           of
           the
           Divine
           Goodness
           and
           Beneficence
           ,
           and
           the
           less
           Sense
           of
           our
           Obligations
           to
           God
           ,
           
           in
           regard
           of
           the
           Evils
           wherewith
           our
           Good
           things
           are
           mixed
           ,
           and
           our
           Earthly
           Comforts
           are
           allayed
           .
           The
           great
           unreasonableness
           hereof
           will
           appear
           by
           the
           following
           Considerations
           ,
           over
           and
           above
           those
           we
           have
           been
           presented
           with
           from
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Text.
           
        
         
           I.
           Very
           many
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           the
           incomparably
           greater
           part
           of
           the
           Evils
           we
           suffer
           ,
           are
           not
           from
           the
           mere
           ,
           or
           immediate
           Providence
           of
           God.
           It
           is
           Certain
           ,
           that
           innumerable
           are
           of
           Mens
           own
           inflicting
           upon
           themselves
           .
           And
           not
           only
           deserved
           by
           them
           ,
           but
           also
           the
           necessary
           Effects
           of
           their
           Sinning
           ,
           or
           of
           their
           Inadvertency
           .
        
         
           We
           will
           take
           Poverty
           for
           one
           Instance
           .
           For
           the
           most
           part
           ,
           we
           may
           well
           adventure
           to
           say
           ,
           Men
           fall
           into
           it
           from
           Plentiful
           Fortunes
           ,
           through
           their
           wicked
           or
           foolish
           wasting
           their
           Estates
           ;
           by
           either
           Spending
           them
           upon
           their
           Lusts
           ,
           or
           their
           rash
           Engaging
           for
           Non-Solvent
           Persons
           ,
           or
           their
           Improvidence
           ,
           Idleness
           and
           Mindlesness
           of
           their
           Business
           .
           Where
           one
           is
           brought
           
           to
           great
           Want
           ,
           by
           the
           mere
           Providence
           of
           God
           ,
           our
           observation
           I
           believe
           will
           tell
           us
           of
           Many
           ,
           who
           ought
           to
           impute
           it
           to
           themselves
           immediately
           .
        
         
           Let
           Sickness
           be
           another
           Instance
           .
           Men
           ,
           for
           Certain
           ,
           do
           ordinarily
           fall
           into
           Diseases
           ,
           by
           doing
           what
           they
           
             ought
             not
          
           to
           do
           ,
           or
           neglecting
           what
           they
           ought
           to
           do
           ,
           and
           for
           want
           of
           due
           Care
           and
           Caution
           .
        
         
           From
           whence
           do
           too
           Commonly
           the
           Tormenting
           Diseases
           of
           the
           Gout
           and
           Stone
           ,
           and
           the
           Dropsy
           and
           Consumption
           come
           ,
           but
           from
           mens
           offending
           as
           to
           the
           Quantity
           or
           Quality
           of
           their
           Liquors
           ;
           or
           from
           such
           other
           Causes
           as
           by
           a
           greater
           Care
           of
           themselves
           might
           have
           been
           Prevented
           ?
        
         
           Feavers
           are
           some
           of
           the
           most
           common
           Diseases
           ,
           but
           are
           they
           not
           ordinarily
           Occasioned
           ,
           either
           by
           some
           intemperance
           in
           Meats
           or
           Drinks
           ,
           or
           Exercise
           ;
           or
           unseasonable
           Drinking
           when
           
             Over
             hot
          
           ,
           or
           not
           taking
           care
           to
           cool
           by
           degrees
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           ?
           And
           I
           am
           per●waded
           ,
           that
           in
           reflecting
           
           upon
           the
           Causes
           of
           our
           Sicknesses
           of
           most
           kinds
           ,
           there
           are
           few
           of
           us
           who
           are
           not
           sensible
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           the
           natural
           Consequents
           of
           some
           Sin
           or
           Imprudence
           or
           other
           ,
           much
           more
           frequently
           ,
           than
           of
           that
           which
           was
           wholly
           unavoidable
           .
        
         
           Except
           in
           the
           Case
           of
           the
           Airs
           being
           infected
           with
           Pestilential
           or
           Malignant
           Vapours
           ,
           we
           have
           great
           reason
           to
           think
           ,
           that
           the
           much
           greater
           Number
           are
           laid
           upon
           
             Sick
             Beds
          
           by
           the
           Ordinary
           Maladies
           ,
           through
           some
           Neglect
           of
           their
           Health
           ;
           and
           therefore
           that
           there
           may
           be
           no
           more
           than
           the
           Permissive
           Hand
           of
           God
           in
           their
           being
           deprived
           thereof
           .
        
         
           When
           we
           suffer
           in
           our
           Reputation
           ,
           or
           otherways
           ,
           from
           the
           
             Ill
             will
          
           of
           others
           ,
           ought
           we
           not
           too
           often
           to
           thank
           our selves
           for
           not
           being
           so
           Cautious
           ,
           as
           we
           should
           have
           been
           ,
           of
           giving
           them
           Offence
           ;
           and
           to
           impute
           it
           at
           least
           to
           Inconsideration
           and
           Rashness
           as
           to
           some
           Actions
           or
           Words
           ,
           which
           gave
           occasion
           more
           or
           less
           ,
           to
           their
           being
           provoked
           against
           us
           ?
        
         
         
           Those
           that
           suffer
           from
           the
           
             Misbehaviour
             ,
             or
             Vndutifulness
             of
             their
             Children
          
           (
           which
           must
           needs
           be
           ,
           especially
           to
           Good
           Men
           ,
           the
           greatest
           of
           all
           Afflictions
           )
           are
           they
           not
           ,
           for
           the
           most
           part
           ,
           too
           well
           aware
           ,
           that
           these
           sufferings
           are
           in
           a
           great
           measure
           owing
           to
           themselves
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           might
           have
           had
           much
           better
           Children
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           set
           them
           a
           better
           Example
           ,
           and
           given
           them
           better
           Education
           ?
        
         
           And
           I
           need
           not
           add
           ,
           that
           the
           same
           is
           to
           be
           said
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           the
           Divine
           Providence
           ,
           of
           those
           Afflictions
           which
           do
           arise
           from
           our
           Sympathy
           with
           those
           in
           Affliction
           ,
           who
           are
           dear
           to
           us
           ,
           when
           they
           suffer
           through
           their
           own
           default
           .
        
         
           And
           the
           same
           thing
           is
           to
           be
           asserted
           of
           those
           Evils
           ,
           which
           we
           have
           not
           brought
           upon
           our selves
           ,
           but
           are
           occasioned
           by
           the
           Faults
           of
           our
           Parents
           ,
           or
           of
           such
           as
           whose
           Interests
           and
           Concerns
           ,
           are
           necessarily
           linked
           together
           with
           ours
           ;
           so
           that
           the
           one
           cannot
           suffer
           ,
           but
           the
           other
           also
           must
           .
        
         
         
           As
           when
           a
           Man
           lives
           in
           Penury
           ,
           by
           means
           of
           his
           Fathers
           disabling
           himself
           by
           his
           Prodigality
           ,
           Sin
           ,
           or
           Folly
           ,
           to
           leave
           him
           a
           Subsistence
           .
           Or
           when
           a
           Trades-man
           is
           made
           a
           Bankrupt
           by
           his
           means
           ,
           whom
           he
           hath
           taken
           into
           Partnership
           .
           Or
           when
           Parents
           ,
           having
           by
           Debauchery
           Marred
           their
           own
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           vitiated
           their
           Constitutions
           ,
           Propagate
           their
           Diseases
           or
           Weaknesses
           ,
           to
           the
           Children
           which
           are
           afterwards
           born
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           Now
           I
           say
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           more
           Unreasonable
           ,
           than
           to
           think
           God
           Almighty
           the
           less
           Good
           ,
           in
           regard
           of
           such
           Evils
           as
           those
           now
           mentioned
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           it
           be
           well
           Considered
           ,
           I
           cannot
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           doubt
           but
           that
           most
           of
           those
           which
           Men
           complain
           of
           ,
           are
           of
           that
           nature
           .
        
         
           And
           what
           would
           we
           have
           God
           to
           do
           ,
           to
           keep
           off
           such
           Evils
           as
           these
           ?
           Would
           we
           have
           him
           to
           be
           continually
           laying
           irresistible
           Restreints
           upon
           Free
           Agents
           ,
           so
           as
           that
           it
           shall
           be
           impossible
           
           for
           them
           at
           any
           time
           to
           do
           wickedly
           ,
           or
           at
           any
           time
           to
           act
           foolishly
           ?
           If
           we
           think
           that
           this
           would
           well
           become
           Him
           ,
           we
           must
           think
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           that
           to
           
             make
             Free
          
           Agents
           did
           disbecome
           Him.
           But
           supposing
           such
           Agents
           so
           left
           to
           the
           Use
           of
           their
           Liberty
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           be
           so
           withheld
           from
           either
           Sinning
           ,
           or
           playing
           the
           Fools
           ,
           as
           that
           they
           can
           not
           do
           either
           ,
           the
           foresaid
           and
           such
           like
           Evils
           will
           necessarily
           follow
           from
           the
           Abuse
           thereof
           .
           And
           therefore
           far
           be
           it
           from
           us
           ,
           to
           have
           the
           lower
           opinion
           of
           the
           Divine
           Goodness
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           ought
           to
           add
           (
           in
           order
           to
           our
           having
           a
           just
           Sense
           of
           Gods
           Goodness
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           may
           lose
           nothing
           of
           the
           Honour
           due
           to
           it
           )
           that
           He
           doth
           innumerable
           times
           prevent
           by
           Special
           Providences
           ,
           our
           running
           into
           those
           Sins
           ,
           and
           those
           Rash
           Actions
           ,
           which
           we
           should
           most
           Certainly
           have
           otherwise
           been
           guilty
           of
           .
           And
           He
           doth
           frequently
           (
           and
           possibly
           as
           often
           )
           in
           a
           Secret
           invisible
           manner
           ,
           so
           Over-rule
           
           Natural
           Causes
           of
           Evils
           ,
           as
           to
           prevent
           their
           producing
           them
           ,
           when
           they
           were
           ready
           to
           do
           it
           .
           Not
           only
           History
           ,
           but
           many
           of
           our
           Own
           observations
           ,
           do
           furnish
           us
           with
           great
           Proofs
           hereof
           .
           And
           if
           these
           Propositions
           were
           not
           both
           true
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           imaginable
           but
           that
           this
           world
           would
           be
           a
           far
           more
           intolerable
           Place
           than
           it
           is
           ,
           Considering
           how
           it
           Abounds
           with
           Wickedness
           ,
           and
           how
           Corrupt
           Human
           Nature
           is
           in
           this
           lapsed
           State
           ,
           and
           what
           Foolish
           &
           Heady
           Creatures
           the
           Generality
           of
           Mankind
           are
           ,
           and
           what
           Dangers
           we
           are
           always
           Encompassed
           with
           .
           And
           the
           worst
           objectino
           we
           can
           make
           against
           Almighty
           God
           ,
           for
           not
           always
           thus
           interposing
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           He
           will
           not
           have
           His
           Goodness
           in
           any
           one
           instance
           ,
           to
           thwart
           and
           contradict
           that
           Wisdom
           by
           which
           He
           Governs
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           But
           suppose
           we
           waved
           the
           Consideration
           of
           the
           Divine
           Wisdom
           in
           the
           Case
           ,
           what
           Reason
           can
           we
           have
           to
           complain
           of
           God's
           deficiency
           in
           Goodness
           ,
           because
           He
           is
           not
           more
           concerned
           to
           keep
           Evils
           off
           from
           us
           ,
           than
           
           we
           our selves
           are
           ?
           'T
           is
           certain
           ,
           He
           is
           much
           more
           concerned
           for
           our
           Good
           than
           we
           can
           be
           ,
           and
           sad
           would
           it
           be
           for
           us
           ,
           if
           He
           were
           not
           ;
           but
           suppose
           Him
           onely
           equally
           so
           ,
           we
           should
           not
           have
           cause
           to
           think
           Him
           wanting
           to
           us
           ,
           but
           should
           see
           great
           Reason
           to
           Admire
           His
           Goodness
           ;
           considering
           that
           He
           is
           infinitely
           Above
           even
           the
           Glorious
           Angels
           ,
           and
           can
           get
           nothing
           by
           any
           of
           His
           Creatures
           being
           Happy
           ,
           nor
           lose
           any
           thing
           by
           their
           being
           Miserable
           .
        
         
           II.
           Let
           us
           next
           Consider
           ,
           That
           ,
           as
           Abundance
           of
           the
           Evils
           which
           men
           groan
           under
           ,
           are
           not
           from
           the
           mere
           or
           immediate
           Providence
           of
           God
           ,
           so
           
             very
             many
          
           things
           which
           we
           are
           apt
           to
           account
           Evils
           ,
           and
           are
           matter
           of
           Discontent
           to
           us
           ,
           are
           not
           Evils
           .
           That
           
             Stoical
             Maxim
             ,
             Mens
             Minds
             are
             not
             troubled
             with
             Things
             ,
             but
             with
             the
             False
             Opinions
             they
             have
             of
             Things
             ,
          
           would
           be
           very
           true
           ,
           if
           it
           ran
           
             thus
             ,
             Mens
             Minds
             are
             not
          
           so
           much
           
             troubled
             with
             Things
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           For
           there
           are
           a
           multitude
           of
           things
           which
           greatly
           disturb
           
           men
           ,
           which
           are
           onely
           Evils
           of
           their
           own
           making
           ;
           and
           which
           they
           would
           make
           exceeding
           light
           of
           ,
           would
           they
           govern
           themselves
           more
           by
           Reason
           ,
           than
           by
           fond
           Phansy
           ,
           and
           the
           Childish
           Opinions
           of
           other
           Folk
           .
        
         
           To
           have
           nothing
           of
           Superfluity
           ,
           but
           a
           bare
           Competency
           ,
           how
           many
           are
           there
           who
           account
           this
           a
           great
           Evil
           !
           Tho'
           the
           Apostle
           saith
           ,
           
             Having
             Food
             and
             Rayment
             ,
             let
             us
             be
             therewith
             content
             .
          
           And
           we
           have
           a
           good
           Old
           Saying
           ,
           
             Nature
             is
             content
             with
             a
             little
             ,
             and
             Grace
             with
             less
             .
          
           How
           many
           lay
           it
           to
           heart
           ,
           as
           a
           grievous
           thing
           ,
           to
           be
           necessitated
           to
           Earn
           their
           Bread
           with
           the
           Sweat
           of
           their
           Brows
           ;
           nay
           not
           to
           be
           able
           to
           make
           such
           a
           Figure
           among
           their
           Neighbours
           ,
           as
           divers
           of
           them
           do
           !
           And
           thereupon
           they
           take
           but
           slight
           Notice
           of
           the
           innumerable
           great
           Mercies
           which
           they
           enjoy
           ;
           and
           instead
           of
           being
           thankful
           for
           them
           ,
           murmur
           at
           the
           Divine
           Providence
           ,
           because
           they
           have
           not
           all
           they
           would
           have
           .
        
         
           But
           as
           God
           Almighty
           asked
           the
           peevish
           Prophet
           ,
           Whether
           
             he
             did
             well
             
             to
             be
             Angry
             ?
          
           I
           ask
           these
           ,
           Whether
           they
           
             do
             well
             to
             be
             discontented
          
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           so
           little
           Sense
           of
           the
           Bounty
           of
           their
           Great
           Benefactor
           ?
           For
           (
           not
           to
           mind
           them
           again
           ,
           that
           whatsoever
           the
           Good
           things
           are
           which
           they
           enjoy
           ,
           they
           are
           more
           than
           He
           oweth
           them
           ,
           or
           than
           their
           Deserts
           can
           claim
           )
           they
           ought
           to
           consider
           ,
           that
           the
           
             whole
             World
          
           is
           God's
           Charge
           ,
           and
           not
           only
           some
           particular
           Persons
           ;
           and
           that
           His
           Goodness
           expresseth
           its
           self
           by
           so
           proportioning
           His
           Blessings
           to
           particulars
           ,
           as
           shall
           be
           most
           for
           the
           good
           of
           the
           Whole
           :
           And
           that
           it
           would
           be
           extremely
           ill
           for
           the
           Whole
           ,
           for
           all
           to
           be
           alike
           Sharers
           in
           His
           Good
           things
           .
        
         
           And
           it
           is
           necessary
           for
           the
           Well-being
           of
           the
           whole
           ,
           that
           there
           should
           be
           a
           great
           Variety
           of
           Ranks
           and
           Orders
           of
           Men
           :
           By
           which
           means
           ,
           all
           necessary
           Offices
           have
           People
           sitted
           for
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           ,
           withal
           ,
           they
           ought
           to
           Consider
           ,
           that
           if
           it
           be
           necessary
           that
           many
           should
           be
           in
           low
           Circumstances
           ,
           for
           the
           performance
           of
           the
           lower
           and
           meaner
           Offices
           ,
           which
           yet
           are
           every
           
           whit
           as
           necessary
           as
           the
           higher
           ,
           what
           Reason
           can
           they
           give
           ,
           why
           themselves
           should
           not
           be
           in
           the
           Number
           of
           those
           many
           ?
           And
           whether
           ,
           for
           the
           same
           Reason
           that
           they
           would
           be
           placed
           in
           one
           of
           the
           higher
           Orbs
           ,
           every
           body
           else
           may
           not
           expect
           it
           ?
           Self-love
           is
           the
           onely
           Reason
           ,
           why
           They
           would
           be
           so
           ,
           but
           why
           may
           not
           Every
           man
           Love
           himself
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           they
           love
           themselves
           ?
        
         
           They
           ought
           to
           consider
           too
           ,
           that
           at
           this
           rate
           there
           could
           be
           no
           pleasing
           them
           .
           For
           tho'
           God
           should
           still
           Humour
           them
           ,
           in
           giving
           them
           their
           desires
           ,
           it
           would
           but
           make
           them
           rise
           ,
           still
           higher
           and
           higher
           in
           their
           Cravings
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           an
           Unquestionable
           Truth
           ,
           that
           Contentment
           is
           not
           to
           be
           fetched
           from
           without
           ,
           but
           from
           an
           inward
           good
           Frame
           and
           Temper
           of
           Mind
           .
           And
           therefore
           we
           find
           ,
           that
           those
           who
           are
           in
           High
           Places
           ,
           are
           not
           the
           most
           but
           the
           least
           Contented
           ;
           are
           far
           more
           Ambitious
           of
           Rising
           still
           Higher
           ,
           than
           those
           who
           are
           in
           the
           very
           lowest
           .
           And
           for
           the
           same
           Reason
           ,
           he
           ,
           who
           being
           
           in
           a
           Low
           Condition
           ,
           is
           discontented
           because
           he
           is
           not
           in
           an
           higher
           ,
           will
           never
           be
           satisfied
           till
           he
           gets
           to
           the
           very
           Top
           ;
           nor
           then
           neither
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           ,
           if
           thy
           being
           without
           such
           or
           such
           Good
           things
           ,
           may
           Reasonably
           be
           a
           matter
           of
           Complaint
           ,
           or
           cause
           an
           Abatement
           of
           Gratitude
           ,
           thou
           canst
           never
           be
           put
           into
           such
           Circumstances
           ,
           as
           where
           in
           thou
           wilt
           see
           cause
           to
           be
           very
           Thankful
           ,
           or
           not
           to
           Complain
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           add
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           highly
           Worthy
           of
           an
           Infinitely
           Good
           God
           ,
           instead
           of
           being
           Repugnant
           to
           His
           Goodness
           ,
           to
           make
           such
           feel
           real
           Evils
           ,
           who
           frame
           to
           themselves
           so
           many
           Imaginary
           Ones
           :
           To
           make
           those
           Sufferers
           in
           
             good
             earnest
          
           ,
           who
           complain
           of
           such
           things
           as
           Evils
           ,
           which
           are
           not
           so
           ,
           but
           at
           worst
           in
           a
           less
           degree
           Good
           things
           :
           And
           to
           bring
           Heavy
           Afflictions
           on
           those
           ,
           who
           make
           by
           their
           Discontent
           Light
           Ones
           Heavy
           .
        
         
           III.
           Consider
           that
           ,
           as
           you
           want
           those
           Good
           things
           which
           many
           have
           ,
           so
           Abundance
           of
           those
           who
           enjoy
           
           those
           things
           ,
           do
           want
           others
           that
           you
           have
           .
           How
           many
           that
           have
           great
           Estates
           ,
           and
           Honourable
           Titles
           ,
           are
           destitute
           of
           some
           of
           the
           most
           Common
           Mercies
           ;
           by
           which
           means
           they
           are
           able
           to
           take
           but
           little
           Content
           ,
           in
           all
           their
           Grandeur
           !
           And
           by
           which
           means
           ,
           Thousands
           of
           the
           Meanest
           People
           ,
           would
           be
           very
           unwilling
           to
           change
           Conditions
           with
           them
           .
           And
           who
           knows
           not
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           common
           Blessings
           ,
           are
           the
           most
           Valuable
           ?
        
         
           What
           Beggar
           would
           lose
           his
           Eye-sight
           ,
           to
           be
           a
           Lord
           ?
           Who
           would
           change
           his
           Cottage
           for
           a
           Palace
           ,
           if
           he
           must
           give
           his
           Health
           and
           his
           Ease
           into
           the
           Bargain
           ?
           Who
           would
           not
           rather
           chuse
           to
           sleep
           sweetly
           upon
           Straw
           ,
           than
           to
           lye
           Crying
           out
           under
           the
           Stone
           or
           Gout
           ,
           upon
           a
           Bed
           of
           Ivory
           ?
           What
           Wise
           Man
           would
           not
           rather
           Eat
           Course
           Fare
           with
           a
           good
           Stomach
           and
           Appetite
           ,
           than
           to
           be
           served
           with
           Great
           Variety
           of
           Choice
           Dishes
           ,
           and
           unable
           to
           Digest
           one
           of
           them
           without
           Wine
           ,
           or
           Relish
           one
           of
           them
           without
           Sauces
           ?
        
         
         
           Nay
           ,
           if
           we
           understood
           what
           Crosses
           and
           Vexations
           of
           innumerable
           kinds
           ,
           do
           attend
           great
           Estates
           ,
           and
           what
           Dangers
           High
           Places
           are
           surrounded
           with
           ,
           we
           should
           greatly
           pity
           very
           Rich
           and
           Great
           Men
           ,
           instead
           of
           Envying
           them
           ;
           and
           think
           our selves
           far
           more
           Happy
           with
           a
           quiet
           and
           a
           safe
           Competency
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           nothing
           more
           plainly
           Observable
           ,
           than
           that
           ordinarily
           the
           Meanest
           Servants
           of
           Great
           People
           ,
           do
           enjoy
           more
           satisfaction
           ,
           than
           their
           Lords
           or
           Ladies
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           put
           all
           things
           together
           ,
           tho'
           there
           be
           a
           vast
           difference
           between
           Men
           and
           Men
           in
           their
           external
           Circumstances
           ,
           there
           is
           but
           very
           little
           difference
           between
           them
           ,
           as
           to
           their
           partaking
           of
           the
           Divine
           Beneficence
           .
        
         
           No
           Man
           enjoys
           all
           Good
           things
           ,
           and
           't
           is
           commonly
           seen
           that
           he
           who
           falls
           short
           of
           another
           in
           some
           ,
           as
           much
           excells
           him
           in
           Others
           .
        
         
           IV.
           Consider
           how
           prone
           we
           are
           ,
           to
           make
           the
           Good
           things
           God
           blesseth
           us
           with
           ,
           Evils
           to
           our selves
           ,
           and
           
           the
           greatest
           Evils
           .
           That
           is
           ,
           to
           convert
           our
           Temporal
           Good
           things
           into
           Spiritual
           Evil
           things
           ;
           and
           to
           make
           them
           more
           Mischievous
           to
           our
           Souls
           ,
           than
           it
           is
           possible
           they
           should
           be
           Beneficial
           to
           our
           Outward
           Man.
           
        
         
           And
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           all
           very
           prone
           hereto
           ,
           so
           ,
           are
           not
           most
           Men
           actually
           so
           much
           the
           more
           High-minded
           ,
           Vain
           ,
           Covetous
           and
           Sensual
           ,
           &c.
           by
           how
           much
           the
           more
           they
           Abound
           in
           Earthly
           Blessings
           ?
           And
           therefore
           is
           God
           ever
           the
           less
           Good
           to
           men
           ,
           in
           either
           depriving
           them
           of
           those
           Good
           things
           they
           so
           Abuse
           ,
           or
           in
           Withholding
           many
           such
           from
           those
           ,
           whom
           He
           knows
           would
           be
           in
           very
           great
           Danger
           of
           Abusing
           them
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           them
           ?
        
         
           V.
           Consider
           how
           many
           do
           make
           little
           Conscience
           of
           
             doing
             Evil
          
           to
           others
           ;
           of
           making
           them
           Sufferers
           in
           one
           respect
           or
           other
           :
           And
           how
           many
           of
           those
           ,
           who
           would
           not
           be
           thought
           Unjust
           or
           Cruel
           ,
           can
           find
           in
           their
           hearts
           to
           be
           Severe
           and
           Rigid
           .
           And
           how
           many
           that
           are
           better
           Natured
           and
           better
           Principled
           than
           such
           Persons
           ,
           
           are
           nothing
           so
           inclined
           to
           Pity
           the
           Afflicted
           and
           Distressed
           ,
           as
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           ;
           nor
           to
           Concern
           themselves
           to
           keep
           off
           Evils
           from
           their
           Brethren
           ,
           or
           to
           Ease
           them
           of
           them
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           Power
           .
        
         
           Now
           with
           what
           Face
           can
           such
           Expect
           ,
           that
           God
           Almighty
           should
           be
           so
           ●ender
           of
           those
           ,
           either
           in
           Preventing
           the
           lighting
           of
           Evils
           upon
           them
           ,
           or
           in
           taking
           them
           off
           ,
           when
           ever
           they
           would
           have
           Him
           ,
           who
           are
           either
           Harsh
           to
           ,
           or
           so
           little
           Tender
           of
           their
           Fellow-Christians
           ,
           or
           Fellow-Creatures
           ?
        
         
           How
           doth
           it
           Dis-become
           the
           Goodness
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           say
           to
           such
           ,
           
             With
             what
             Measure
             you
             Mete
             ,
             it
             shall
             be
             Meted
             to
             you
             again
             ?
          
        
         
           What
           Wretched
           People
           then
           are
           they
           ,
           who
           Complain
           of
           God
           ,
           for
           Shewing
           no
           more
           Mercy
           to
           them
           ,
           who
           have
           no
           more
           Mercy
           for
           others
           ;
           and
           that
           will
           have
           Him
           to
           be
           the
           less
           Good
           upon
           this
           account
           !
           Since
           it
           is
           no
           contradiction
           to
           His
           Goodness
           ,
           to
           Abandon
           such
           to
           Extreme
           Sufferings
           ,
           but
           an
           Act
           most
           worthy
           of
           His
           Justice
           .
        
         
           VI.
           It
           may
           be
           Considered
           too
           ,
           that
           many
           of
           the
           Evils
           which
           befall
           us
           ,
           others
           do
           Gain
           more
           by
           than
           the
           Sufferers
           lose
           ;
           &
           consequently
           ,
           God
           is
           more
           Gracious
           to
           others
           in
           
           them
           ,
           than
           He
           is
           Severe
           to
           those
           who
           Suffer
           by
           them
           .
           We
           use
           to
           say
           ,
           
             That
             is
             an
             Ill
             Wind
             ,
             which
             blows
             no
             body
             good
             .
          
        
         
           And
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           shewed
           ,
           that
           God
           designs
           Mens
           own
           Good
           in
           their
           Sufferings
           ,
           be
           they
           never
           so
           bad
           ,
           provided
           they
           have
           not
           Sinned
           themselves
           past
           Recovery
           by
           Afflictions
           ;
           and
           that
           all
           that
           improve
           them
           as
           they
           ought
           ,
           do
           reap
           great
           Advantage
           by
           them
           ,
           especially
           Spiritual
           Advantage
           ,
           so
           hath
           He
           Contrived
           things
           in
           so
           Wise
           a
           manner
           ,
           as
           that
           we
           are
           Mutually
           Advantaged
           by
           one
           anothers
           Afflictions
           .
           There
           may
           be
           given
           a
           Thousand
           Instances
           of
           this
           nature
           ,
           and
           therefore
           it
           is
           needless
           to
           give
           any
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           He
           that
           would
           take
           a
           Measure
           of
           the
           Divine
           Goodness
           ,
           by
           what
           happeneth
           to
           Himself
           ,
           Considered
           as
           a
           Being
           Separate
           from
           the
           Rest
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           must
           be
           so
           Silly
           as
           to
           think
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           that
           God
           hath
           no
           Body
           to
           be
           Concerned
           for
           besides
           Himself
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           take
           we
           along
           with
           these
           Considerations
           ,
           what
           hath
           been
           Discoursed
           of
           the
           Fewness
           of
           our
           Evil
           things
           ,
           in
           Comparison
           of
           our
           Good
           things
           :
           And
           of
           our
           Non-desert
           of
           the
           least
           Good
           things
           ,
           but
           our
           
             High
             desert
          
           of
           the
           Greatest
           Evils
           :
           And
           of
           the
           Need
           
           we
           all
           have
           of
           Evil
           things
           :
           And
           of
           Evil
           things
           being
           appointed
           us
           by
           God
           Almighty
           ,
           from
           the
           
             Self-same
             Principle
          
           that
           Good
           things
           are
           ;
           I
           say
           ,
           Let
           these
           accompany
           our
           last
           mentioned
           Considerations
           ,
           and
           then
           ,
           if
           we
           are
           Able
           ,
           let
           us
           think
           it
           a
           Tolerable
           thing
           to
           Repine
           at
           any
           of
           God's
           Dealings
           with
           us
           ;
           or
           to
           
             Cease
             to
             Praise
          
           Him
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           a
           Thankful
           Sense
           of
           our
           Obligations
           to
           Him
           ,
           under
           even
           the
           Sharpest
           Tryals
           .
           Then
           let
           us
           think
           ,
           if
           we
           can
           ,
           that
           that
           Exhortation
           of
           the
           Psalmist
           ,
           may
           be
           sometimes
           Unseasonable
           ,
           
             viz.
             Praise
             the
             Lord
             ;
             for
             it
             is
             Good
             to
             Sing
             Praises
             unto
             our
             God
             :
             For
             it
             is
             Pleasant
             ,
             and
             Praise
             is
             Comely
             .
          
        
         
           If
           ,
           after
           all
           that
           hath
           now
           been
           Offered
           to
           our
           Consideration
           ,
           we
           can
           perswade
           our selves
           thus
           to
           think
           ,
           we
           must
           Blame
           holy
           Iob
           for
           being
           so
           offended
           as
           his
           
             Wife
             's
             Taunt
             ,
             Bless
             God
             and
             Dye
             .
          
        
         
           But
           now
           ,
           in
           the
           Conclusion
           ,
           I
           must
           Repeat
           what
           hath
           been
           already
           Suggested
           ,
           and
           which
           Sad
           Experience
           assures
           us
           of
           ,
           viz.
           That
           it
           is
           far
           more
           easie
           to
           Satisfie
           our
           Reason
           ,
           than
           to
           bring
           our
           Passions
           under
           the
           Government
           thereof
           ;
           and
           especially
           in
           reference
           to
           the
           Bearing
           of
           Afflictions
           .
           And
           therefore
           there
           
           is
           an
           Absolute
           Necessity
           of
           adding
           ,
           to
           whatsoever
           Considerations
           we
           are
           furnished
           with
           to
           Strengthen
           us
           under
           them
           ,
           our
           Frequent
           ,
           Humble
           ,
           and
           most
           Importunate
           Supplications
           to
           the
           
             Throne
             of
             Grace
          
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           not
           under
           the
           Afflicting
           Hand
           of
           God
           ,
           be
           so
           Over-Power'd
           with
           Melancholy
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           unable
           to
           think
           a
           Wise
           Thought
           ;
           and
           to
           be
           Inabled
           so
           to
           fix
           our
           Minds
           upon
           Such
           Considerations
           ,
           as
           that
           they
           may
           make
           an
           Effectual
           Impression
           ;
           and
           that
           we
           may
           have
           Supports
           suitable
           to
           our
           Burdens
           ;
           without
           which
           ,
           let
           us
           Exercise
           our
           Thinking
           Faculty
           as
           well
           as
           we
           can
           ,
           we
           shall
           be
           
             as
             Weak
             as
             Water
          
           .
           And
           they
           were
           great
           Divine
           Supports
           to
           which
           Iob
           was
           above
           all
           beholden
           ;
           or
           he
           had
           never
           Behaved
           himself
           as
           he
           did
           ,
           under
           Such
           Mighty
           Calamities
           ;
           nor
           particularly
           given
           so
           brave
           a
           Reply
           to
           his
           Wifes
           Prophane
           Speech
           ,
           as
           ,
           
             What
             ?
             Shall
             we
             receive
             Good
             at
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             shall
             we
             not
             receive
             Evil
             ?
          
        
         
           THE
           END
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A40078-e4250
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             Quod
             ni
             it●
             sit
             ,
             quid
             V●n●ra●ur
             quid
             Precamur
             Deos
             ?
             De
             Nat.
             De●r
             .
          
           
             2
             Sam.
             16.
             9.
             
          
           
             Esay
             10.
             5
             ,
             6.
             
          
           
             *
             In
             Epictet
             .
             Enchirid
             .
             c.
             34.
             p.
             167
             
          
           
             *
             Comment
             .
             in
             Epictet
             .
             l.
             2.
             c.
             6.
             p
             117.
             
          
           
             Arrian
             .
             l.
             2.
             
             P.
             186.
             
          
           
             
               Arrian
               .
               Epict.
            
             l.
             3.
             
             C.
             22.
             
             P.
             314.