How f borild a Chriffian behave him felf Serm. 15. in the knowledge of the necefhty, nature, and defign of afiftioñs. I. Necefiity, I Pet.I.6. If need be you mutt be in heavinefs for a time. In refpeft of the terms of the Covenant which lie in this, deny your felf,and take up your Crofs, &c.Ard in refpeä.of our difpofition, we cannot be without them to wean us from the World to itnhitter the creature to tis, to conform us to a crucified Saviour, and make us partakers of his holinefs. 2. The nature and defign of Afllic4ions; They are fire not to con - fume our gold,but to purge away our drofs ; they are nor revenging judgements, but fatherly medicinal Corrections; not judicial Poifon, but remedial Phyfick, &c. Therefore i Pet.4.12. T ink not flrange,be not ftrangers (as the word imports) to the fiery and grea tryal,and thou wilt not be difmayed when it comes. Even Poifon may be habitu- ated and made innocent. ,If alit-anger come in unexpected into our houfe, grim and armed with Inlîruments of mifchicf, we know not whence he is, nor what he comes for,it will Bartle and appale us : But if we be acquainted with him and his deign , and expert him , we are quiet, and compofed to entertain him. So when Af}liftion comes, we can fay, This is the Cup my Father gives me, who I am fure means me no hurt, this is but what I looked for every day, C-c. Enure we there- fore our felves to the Crofs, and make it familiar, converting with it in our meditation and expectation. Seen thou one afffided with the lofs of a Wife,another of a Husband,another of a Child,anorher of Elate, another begging bread in Prifon or diftrefs, rc. bear part of his bur- den in fympathy and pity,and readinefs to fuccour bim,and put thy felf in his or her cafe,fuppotng thou wert fo and fo(it Will do thee no hurt) what fhouldtl thou do ? And fo God will make thy burden light, Pfa/. 41.I . So thou wilt be prepared to entertain and meet the burden, and it !hall not fail upon thee,and upon thy fpirit to çrufh and fink thee, &c. Think often, and think not amifs (have no hard conceits) of affLdion, and it (hall not be hard upon thee. Take this Courfe, and then as for the malice of Satan, in acculiing and tormenting, and the feeming fe- verity of the Lord, in withholding and withdrawing ; thou !halt not need to trouble thy felf, for Satan is a, refirained and co,quered ene- my and cannot hurt thee, and God is reconciled and will not hurt thee; He may try thee by intercepting the fweetnefs of frui. ion ; He dill never curie thee by intermitting or breaking the firmnefs of the Union ; and ':f he hide his face for a moment lament after him, and he will vifit thee with everlafting kindnefs of his compaffïon , which change not, though there may be a change as to what thou feclefi. Thus
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