The Great Duty of Re/ignation. things here below, keeps the Heanloofe from rhein, fortifies us ' ''ith proper Thoughts ro bear Evils that happen, and prevents D1F1ppomrmcnr_s, that IS an a~gra\attng Ctr, wmftancc of our Troubles,and a great Vexation to the Mmd. The Ifr~e~Jtes when tranf parted from the Land of Canaan t~ Baby~on.fclt the Rigors of their Capnvttythc more fcn - :fibly, in rhat they were confidcnc m rhctr T_crm and State in rhar_Land, as _rh:ir pcrma~ ncnt Inheritance: To be expelled from fo nch a Country whcrcm they prOimfcd rhemfclves Rclt, was a high Degree of their Mill:ry. · There is indeed a Prc-vifion of Evils that may befal us, that has Torment, rhar anticipates and exafpcratcs MifCry._ Fear, th~r give~ the Signal ~f approaching Evils, often brings more Terror rhan Cauuon, . and l1ke a nmoro~1s Centmel by a f:1lfe A.lap11, ?fl:oniOlcS rather than prepares the Mmd to encounter ~vtth Danger. Our ~avwur ~r~ctly forbids fttch perplexing Apprehentions of fum~e Evils, as mofl: unbccommg Chnfhans, who are under the perpetual Providence of thetr Hcaven~y Father. Tal:e no thought for M.1.t. 6. 34· tbemorrow, tbe morrow jhall take thought for the things ~f ztfolf. But on the cOiltrar,r, to be fCcure in our Pro:fi>erity, as if we ~10uld ah~ays CllJOY a favourable. Courfc of tlungs;J ;15 if our mofi flouri01i ng Comforts d1d not ipnng from an earthly O:tgir~al., an~! migh~ be fuddcnly blafted, or catil.y cut down, is ~o lay ou.r. felves open to furpnzmg D1~orders and Perplexities , when E~tls befal us.. 'Tts ri:c \~I{c Counfel of S_.Peter ro Beltevc:st . , 1bin/.: it not j}range concernmg tbe fiery_ .trral, wiHcb IS to try you, ~s if fome flra~ge tiJing t Pet. i · r: .i happened to ) 'Du , For unexpeCted Adverflry faHs upon the Soul m ItS full Wctgl~r, an,! fuddenly overthrows it. Uncomfortable Acctdenrs t1nke to the H~arr, when us not ann'd ro receive the Blow; Whereas the Remembran(:e of our frad and fickle State, makes us lefs troubled in affliCtive Changes, bccaufe prepared for what may happen to us. Dire(!. ). Serious and mournful ReAeCtions upon our Guilt, and what we dcfcrvc' ~~·~::: ~~~~i~~~J~n~~'ini~r~~~~t= t::i~7~~~11~u~ r~~:i~~s~up\~~fs :~p~~~;~:d ab~ ~~~i~:~~. Preacher, b tbe day of aclveiftty confider.' It rs a proper Seafon to tCVIew..Confcicnce, tO fem·cb t111d t1y o11r 1vqys , to rake a fad and fcrious Examination of our Lives. If God flwuld exaCt the rigid Score of our Debts, and make \IS as miferable as we are finful, yet there is the greatcft Reafon to juibfy lum, and accufe our fclves; much more when our Funifhment is far below our DeferJs. , 1 Humility is the Mother of Mccknefs, they arc Graces of the fame Complexion and ~~::t~:~~pi1~l:r ~~:~01~1;~,t~tll~~r~~n~~itrl~t ~~~~~~~e~, ~;snn~~h1i~~~ s![:fr~:~:~e ::d. i:ii worlC than nothing in Sm; as empty of all that is holy and good, and compounded of all E\il: And Blej[ed are thofe tbat mourn, in a fenfe of their Sins: And then, Blej[ed are tbe_ meel.: : ilpd rh.eiC arc very congruoufly JOine~, for M~eknefs IS a Dtfpotition infeparablc from the other. He that duly confiders lumfelf, to be a wretched Creature, a worrhl cfs Rebel, and is humbly and forrowfuUy affcClcd .for his Unworrhinefs, his Paffions will be 1i1bdued; and as melted Metal receives any Fonn, fo he patierirly fuffers . what God infliCts. A troken beart is an acceptable facri.fce to God, and implies a mnder Pfal. p . Scnfc of Sin, as the Offence at)d Dilhonour of the Holy and Gracious GolJ, in Allufion . to a broken Bone, rhat has .an exquiftte Sc::;nfC of any huru: Al1d it may be extended to f.gnify a Heart rhar is compliant and fubmiilivc to God's Will, in Allulion to a Hor!O' that is broken, and caflly managed by the Reins of the Rider. Contrition for Sin is always joined with Rcf.gnation to the cha!l:iflng Providence of God. , 13cfldcs, Godly Sorrow willlcffcn Natural Sorrow. Sin 6rlt defcrvcs our Grief, and the fharpefr Accents of our Lamentation ihould be pliced upon it; and the more fenfible we arc of it, the lighter will AffliCtion be to us. As the opening a Vein !tops by Rcntltion, a Flux of Blood 111 another Part; · fo the rurning rhe Stream of Sorrow from AffiiClion to Sin, is a powerful Means t,O make it ceafe: There is,Health in the 13irterncfs ~e;~Y~~~~t':n~0r~~s 'l:7s ~~~~; ~~;!~~~~~!· rh~~e~ttc~~pc~~~~h:v;n~~:~~~~~ blc Example of this, in the Cafe of AffliCted Ephraim: Upon. his Penitential Complainr; t.hc Exprctlion of hts Grief and Sh.ame for h,is Sm, God graCI~ufly .anfwers, Is Ephraim }er. 3 :r. ; 0 • my dear fou? Is be a pleafant c~1ld? For fince I fpake agamfl hrm, .I do earJtejlly remem~er Mm jlill: lherefore my borpels are troubled for bim; I will /ure!:J have mercy on hrm, faith .tht Lord. When the relenting Sinner is coVered ~vicb Tears, tire great Comforter dcftends, and brings healing eo the ti:oubled ·warers: This Advice is more nccc«ary for the AffliCted , becaufe ufually the Stroaks of Providence arc properly i :Reproof and CorreCtion for Sin; the Application of a Corrofivc implies that fomc cormpt Matter rs to be dtfch•rged: God is provoked by rheir NegleCts, and though Love Qq • cail'n6t
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