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of Suffering, which is the proper Motive to Patience. Now the better thou art compofed under any Trouble, the more commendable is thy Wisdom, and the larger will be thy Recompence. Nay, not only fo, but the eafier will be thy Lot too. For Confideration will reconcile thee to it, and Time and Experience. make the thing familiar. Nor matters it much who are the immediate Inftruments, or from what next Hand thy Afflictions come. For those are very idle Pretences, which Men ufually labour to cover their want of Temper withal: "Had this been done by an "Enemy or a Stranger, I could have born it; but "from a Friend, a Relation, one whom I have high"ly obliged, and have a Right to expect better Ufage "from, what Flesh can brook fuch Bafenefs and Ingratitude? Had I given any juft Occafion for that difparaging Report, it would never have vex'd me, but to be flandered and abufed, without any ground, "without the leaft Fault or Provocation of Mine, ❝ methinks 'tis very hard; The thing it felf I could away with, but the Perfon, or the particular Cir"cumftances, put me out of all Patience. " thefe are nice and frivolous Diftinctions; Such as are altogether foreign and impertinent to the Matter in Hand; and what the Virtue of Patience is no way concern'd in. For this takes Injuries and Affronts by the great, without entring into any particular Examination of their Nature and Quality, and peculiar Aggravations; nor does it at all regard the Perfon, by whom it is exercised, but confiders that Perfon only, by whom it is to be crowned.

Alas!

No Man hath yet arrived to a due Perfection in this Grace, who is not content with any kind of Tryal, from any Hand whatfoever. The Differences of Friend or Foe, of Superior, Inferior, or Equal; of a goodnatured and confciencious, or a wicked,perverfe, vexatious Man, are of no confideration at all; But, let

the

the Provocation be what it will, and come from whom it will, let it be offered but once, or repeated never fo often, 'tis all alike; becaufe in All the over-ruling Hand of God is attended to; and every thing received, as ordained and originally inflicted by him: and what proceeds from him is always good, and fure to turn to account. And, as nothing he appoints, tho' feemingly never fo grievous, fhall be to good Mens difadvantage; fo nothing, tho' never fo flight and defpicable in it felf, when dutifully and decently entertained, fhall be paffed over unrewarded. Arm thy felf therefore for Combat, and decline no occafion of Engaging that offers, if thou defire the Glory of the Conqueft. Without Fighting thy way through, there is no coming at the Crown. And they who refufe to Suffer with Chrift, do in effect, and by neceffary confequence refuse to Reign with him. Štand up then bravely to Afflictions, and quit thy felf like a Man; Repofe and Happiness is what thou Coveteft, but these are only to be obtained by Labour : Victory and Triumph are the things thou aimeft at; But who was ever yer fo abfurd, as to think of Triumphs without Enemies and Hardfhips, or Conquering without a Battel?

Difciple.] I acquiefce, dear Lord, in all thou fay'ft; nor will I indulge fuch vain Imaginations. But fince, even where the Spirit is moft willing, the Flesh is miferable weak, affift me, I beseech thee, that by thy Power and Strength I may be able to do, what by my own I cannot accomplish, and Nature is averfe from fo much as attempting. Thou knoweft full well, how little I can bear; how every Shock makes my. feeble Heart give ground; Lord, do thou fupport and confirm me, that Tribulation may appear, not only tolerable, but even defirable, in compliance with thy Will and my Duty. For, what regret foever Humanity may betray in thefe Cafes, when Danger

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approaches; In my own better Judgment, which confiders things in the Chriftian and Spiritual Senfe, I am abundantly fatisfied, how much the harfher Difpenfations of thy Providence conduce to my Soul's Advantage. And, tho' no Chaftifement for the prefent feems joyous but grievous, yet my better Senfe, when I think freely, convinces me of thy Wisdom and Mercy, and that it is even good for me to be afflicted.

CHA P. XXII.

The Infirmities and Miseries of our Prefent State.

Difciple]
Pfal. xxxii.

I

Will confefs my Unrighteousness unto the Lord, and bewail my Infirmities before him. For every trivial Accident cafts me down, and I am often overwhelm'd with Sorrow, upon Occasions which my Calmer Thoughts abundantly convince me, deferve rather my Contempt, than my ferious Concern. Sometimes I fee and condemn my own Folly, and mighty Refolutions I make, how bravely I will behave my felf for the time to come; and, yet upon the next Affault of fome flight Misfortune, this Imaginary Heroe is beaten from his Poft, and cannot ftand the fhock of a very common Difficulty. The poorest and most defpicable Things are, I find, capable of becoming great and dangerous Temptations; And I, who at a diftance defy them, yet, when brought to the Tryal, feel, by fad Experience, upon how flippery Ground I ftand.

This is indeed the wretched Condition of thy poor unftable Servant: But, Lord, do Thou, in much Compaffion, look upon my Frailty, for thou knoweft it more perfectly than I my felf can. Stretch forth thy Hand, and draw me out of these

Pfal. Ixix.

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deep Waters, and out of this Mire of Sin and Weaknefs, that I fink not in my Corruption. I cannot eafily exprefs the Melancholy Reflections, the Shame and Confufion, the Indignation and fad Perplexity of Heart, which the Confcioufnefs of my own Inability to refift Temptations, and the Inconftancy of my best and moft vigorous Purposes create; and, tho' my Will be not always vanquished, nor do I (bleffed be God) yield to every wicked Suggeftion, yet the repeated Affaults of the Enemy difturb my Quiet, and I am weary of a Life, which confifts of perpetual Hazard, and painful Conflicts with my felf. The Wretchedness of my Condition is but too manifest ; I need no other Argument to prove it, than that eafie Access evil Thoughts find to my Breaft, which, in defpight of all my watchful Care, and moft manful Struggles, are much fooner infinuated, and received, than either driven out again, or prevented from entring.

Look down then, thou Almighty Rock of Ifrael, and Lover of Souls, and interpofe thy Power and Protection; Give feasonable Succour, and happy Succefs to my too fruitless Endeavours. Arm and Guard me with Strength from above; and fuffer not the Old Man,the corrupt Inclinations of my Flefh, which refuses to be entirely fubdued and brought to Reason, to ufurp the Dominion over my better part. For this Obftinate Rebel renews its Infurrections daily, and bids me Battel; calls me to Combats and hazardous Engagements, which muft never, never end in perfect Peace and Safety, fo long as this miferable State of Mortality endures. Moft miferable indeed; fince every Action and Accident of my Life involves me in fresh Dangers; fince every step I take is upon Snares and Precipices; fince every Time and Place is thick befet with Troubles and Toils, with Treachery and Temptation, and a numerous Hoft of Enemies ready

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thank thee for thy deferved Correction even in the midst of my Trouble; Or, if thou fpare the Rod, and make my Darkness to be Light, I will then thankfully receive the Bleffing, and magnifie the Favour which I cannot deferve.

Chrift. This is indeed, my Son, the Difpofition and Deportment befitting the Character of my Faithful Children: And all who profefs to walk with me in Piety and Virtue, muft bring themselves to a Soul fo even, fo refign'd, that Suffering and Joy, Poverty or Riches may be entertain'd alike. The one, without Murmuring or Complaint; the Other, without the leaft Pride or Change of Temper. For both are equally the Appointment of My Providence, and, as fuch, fhould be met with Cheerfulness and perfect Content.

Difciple.] Lord, I am willing to endure, whatever thou art pleafed to lay upon me. And do defire to receive Good and Evil, the Sweets and Bitter, the Comforts and the Croffes of this Life, with the very fame refentments of Mind. Nay, not only to receive, but to be thankful for both, fince both come from thy own Hand, which cannot err in ordaining all my Events. This only I implore, that in all Changes of Condition, thou would'ft in thy Mercy preferve me from Sin; For, while I keep my Innocence, and continue in thy Love, not Calamity, nor Death, nor Hell it felf fhall make me afraid. However thou mayeft exercife my Patience, or frown upon me at prefent, yet fo long as thou doft not caft me off for ever, nor blot my Name out of thy Book of Life, I am above all Danger; and the utmoft Powers and Malice of Fortune, and Enemies and Devils combined together, can never hurt me.

CHAP.

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