The P R E F A C E. lxix SOME of his refleElions upon that me- lancholy Rate of affairs, and his own par- ticular concernment in it, are as follow : " 0! my foul wait on the Lord, and be of good courage, and he ''hall f rengthen thine " heart. It pleafes God to exercife me with " a variety of trials; but, tho' I am troubled " alm on every fide, .Z am not difirefed, " I am perplexed, but not in dípair. When " I refleEi on the times which are paff, " the troubles and temptations which have " environed me, together with the divine cc vouchfafements in that fiate, I am com- " forted ; for in faithfulnefs God has af- " fliéfed me, and has never forfaken me. " I have been made to rejoice in tribula- tions, for they have work'd Tome in- " creafe of patience, experience and hope ; " therefore let me account it all joy, when " I fall into divers temptations : And what " have I now to be follicitous about ? For, " after all, that which produces inquietude " and carelefnefs of mind, attended with confufion and pain, is an excefíive re- " gard to fome prefent intereff ; for de- " bates in my mind meeriy about duty, if nothing elfe be mixed with them, are e 3 " calm
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