846 [ontemplations. LIB.V. j -~ow all dry and dufry Land,and no water. Extremities arcthe bdl: rryals of men; as f. mbod1cs,thofe tharcan bear< fuddenchangcs ofheats and cold without complaint are the fl:rongdl. So much as an evil! ropchcs upon the meanc, fo much hdp 1; yedds towards patience; Every degree offorrow is a prepamionofthe nnt : but when we laffe to extrc:amcs without the meane, we want the benefit of recollcaion, an m'ufl: troll: to our prcfent fl:rcngth. Tocome from all things to nothing is not a defcent but a downfall; and it is a rare fl:rengrh and conll:ancy not rob~ maimed at !call:. Thefe headlong cvills, as they arc the forefl:, fo th~y mull: be moll: prov1dcd for ; as on the contrary, a fudden advancement from a low condirion to the height .ofHonour,is moll: hard ro manage.No man canmorvell how that Tyrant bhnded h1s Captives, when he heares that he brought rhem immcdiardy out ofa dark dungeon, into Roomes that were made briyhrand glorions. W car~ ll norworthyto know,forwharwear~.rcferved: rto evil canamareus, ifwe can overcome fudden extremities. The Ion~ deferringofagood (though tedious) yet makes it rhc better when it comes.We 1 did the lfradites hope that theWaters which were fo Ion!. in finding, would be ptec10us when theywere found: Yet behold,rhcy arc cro!fc ,notonly in their dcfircs,but in rhei1· hopcs;for afrcr thrtt daks rravell,thc firfl: Founraines they findc arc bitterWaters. Ifrhcfc Wells had not run pureGall, they could nor have fo IIlliCh complained:Long rhirfl: wil!makcbitterwarcrs fweet;yet fuch were rhcfc Springs,thatthc Ifraclitcs did nor fo muchliketheirmoifrure,as abhor their rdin1. I fee the firfr handfell that God gives them in their voy~eto the Land of Promifc; Thirfl: and Bitteme!fc. Satan gives liS pleafanrenrrances tnto his waies,and rcfervcs c the bitterne!fe forrhe end: Godinures us toourworfr at firfl:, and fwcctens ourconclu£ion with pleafure. The fame God rh><would nor lead Ifraelthrough tho P~ilifl:ins Land, loll: !bey lbould ilirink at the fight ofWarre, now leads them through the Wil4erpelf<, a.nd feares'notto try their patiencewithbitter potions. If~ had n9rloved them, tl)e Jligyptian Furnace or Sword had prevented tbrirthirfl:, or th.1t Sea wherepf theirEncmiesdrunk dead; and yet fee how he dyers them. Neverany pave had fo bittq draughts upon Eatth as rhofc he lovesbell:: The palate is an ill jud~e ofthcf;~vo4" of God.O my Saviour, thou didfr drink a; more bitter Cup from t e hat!<l5 ofthr Fath<r, then that which thou refufedllof the}ewes, or thcnrhar whic-h hat~ driB D from thee. Before,rhey could not drink ifthey would; nowrhcymight and would not.Gosl cangive us blellingswithfuchataeg, thatthoofruirion iliallnormuch differ from the wanr:So many a one hathriches,not graceto ufethem;many h;~ve children,butfuch as they prcferrc barrenne!fe.They had faid before,Oh that we had any worer!now, 0 h thatwe had good water! It isfaood fo to de£ire bleflingsfromGod,tharwe may be the better for enjoying them; o to crave water,th.1t it may not be [;~weed with bitterneffe. Now,thefe fond Ifraelites in !leadofpraying,muiinur;in!leadofpraying toGo<!, murmur againfl: Mofls. What hAththerighte~us done? He m;~de not either the \¥11derne!fcdry,orrhe Waters bitter; Yea(ifhiscondu<!l were the manor) what one foot went he before themwithout God~ The Pillar ledthem,and not he;ycr Mojis {; is murmured at. Iris the h>rd condition ofaurhoriry, that when the mu\l;itude fare well they applaud rhemfdves1 when ill,they repine againfr their GovcrQqurs.Whq can!;ope to befrce,ifM~s efcate nor~Never anyPrince fo merited ofap~Qple.He thrull himfdfupon the ikes o Phuaohs"franny. He broujhr them from a boqdacrc worfe then death. His rod dividedtltc Sea, and lhare life to them, death tQ rh;;r Purfuers.Whowould not have thought thefe menfo obliged toM•fis,that no ' death could have ohned their mouthes or raifedrheir bands againfl: him~Yernow, the firll occafiono want makes them rebell.No benefit can !top the mouth of!m, patience:Ifour turn he not fer~cd forrhc prefent,former fayours are either. forgo~- ten or contemned. No marvel! ifwe deale fo with men, when God re~e1ves.tlm rne:Uurefrom us. One yec.re ofFaminc,One Summero£Pcfril~ncc:, O~Moonc qf ~ unfea-
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