320 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. troubles with a natural stoutness of spirit; and some have received a sanctified improvement of the trials, with joy in the Lord. But many, we find, go heavily under their burdens, having their minds darkened with misapprehensions of the love of God and of their own personal interest in his grace. It is not, therefore, un- seasonable to dwell a little on this point. OUTWARD TROUBLES are often the occasions, if not the causes, of great inward distresses. You know how the saints of old expressed their sense of them and con- flicts with them. The complaints of David are fam- iliar to all who attend to any communion with God in these things; so are those of Job, Jonah, Jeremiah, and others: neither do they complain merely of their troubles, but of the sense which they had of God's dis- pleasure in them, and of his hiding his face from them whilst they were so exercised. So it is nowwith many. Says one, "I am rolled from one trial to another; the clouds with me still return after the rain. All the billows and water-spouts of God go over me : in my person, it may be, pressed with sickness, pains, and troubles; in my relations, with their sins, miscarriages, or death; in my outward state, losses, and reputation, I am even a withered branch: Surely, if God had any special regard to my soul, it would not be thus with me; or some timely end would have been put to these dispensations." On the other hand, they take a view of some other professors : they see that their tables are spread day by day; that the candle of the Lord shines continually on their taber- nacle, and it seems that in all things they have their hearts' desire. Except the common evils of human na-
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