324 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. but he will put the impress of his own greatness and terror upon it, that he may be acknowledged and sub- mitted to. Such was the state with Naomi, when, from a full and plentiful condition, she went into a strange country with a husband and two sons, where they all died, leaving her destitute and poor. Hence, in her ac- count of God's dealing with her, she says, " Call me not Naomi," that is, pleasant, "but call me Mara," that is, bitter, "for the Almighty bath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, since the Lord hath testified against me, and the Al- mighty bath afflicted me'!" Ruth, 1 : 20, 21. So was it with Job, with the widow of Zarephath, and with her at Nain, who was burying her only child. And still, in many afflictions, God is pleased to add an entangling speciality which perplexes the soul, and darkens it in all its reasonings about the love of God towards it, and its interest in pardon and grace. 3. In some, the affections, as fixed on lawful things, have become very sensible and tender, and fitted to re- ceive very deep impressions from great afflictions. Now, though this in itself be a good natural frame, and helps to preserve the soul from that stoutheartedness which God abhors; yet, if it be not watched over, it is apt to perplex the soul with many entangling temptations. The apóstle intimates a double evil to which we are ex- posed in afflictions: "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him." Heb. 12:5. Men may either, through a na- tural stoutness, despise and contemn their sufferings, and be obstinate under them; or they may faint and
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