TO BE EXPECTED ON EARTH. 183 § 13. (3) It is the way to cause God, either to deny the mercies we ask, or to take from us those we enjoy, or at least embitter them to us. God is no- where so jealous as here. If you had a servant whom your wife loved better than yourself, would you not take it ill of such a wife, and rid your house of such a servant ? so, if the Lord see you begin to settle in the, world, and say, Here I will rest, no wonder if he soon in his jealousy unsettle you. If he love you, no won- der if he take that from you, with which he sees you are destroying yourselves. It hath long been my observation of many, that when they have attempted great works, and have just finished them ; or have aimed at great things in the world, and have just ob- tained them ; or have lived in much trouble, and have just overcome it; and began to look on their condi- tion with. content, and rest in it; they are then usually near to death or ruin. When a man is once at this Ian-. guage, Soul, take thy ease ; the next news usually is, Thou fool, this night, or this month, or this year, thy soul shall be required; and then whose things shall these be? What house is there, where this fool dwelleth not? Let you and I consider, whether it be not our own case. Many a servant of God bath been destroyed from the earth, by being over-valued, and over - loved. I am persuaded,. our discontents and murmuring are not so provoking to God, nor so destructive to the sinner, as our too sweet enjoying, and resting in, a pleasing state. If God' hath crossed you in wife, children, goods, friends, either by taking them away, or the comfort of them ; try whether this be not the cause; for wheresoever your desires stop, and you say, Now I am well, that condition you make your god, and engage the jealousy of God against it. Whether you be friends to God or enemies, you can never expect that God should suffer you quietly to enjoy your idols. . § 14. (4) Should God suffer you to take up your rest here, it is one of the greatest curses that could
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