The Vexation of the Spirit. themfelves, but accidentally evil may juffily bee the ob jeó of our prayers and endevours ; And fo on the other- fide, many things there are which in thernfelves alone are evil , yet by the providence and difpofition of God they have a good ilfue, they worke together for the bc(} to them that love God. It was good for David that hcc had beene affliaed ; yet wee may not lawfully pray for fuch evils on our Pelves or. others , upon prefumption of Gods goodneffe to turne them to the bell. Who doubts that the calamities of the Church doe at this time flirre up the hearts of men to feeke the Lord and his face, and to walke humbly and fearefully before him ? yet that man fhould bee a curfe and prodigy in the eyes of God and men , who fhould frill pray for the calamities of Si- on , and to fee the flones of Jerufalem f }ill in the duff. Death is in it felfe an evil thing ( for the A pärle calls it an enemy, I Cor. t 5.) yet by the infinite power and mer- cy of God, who delights to bring good out ofevill , and beauty out of. afhes , it hath not oncly the ling, taken away butis'.madc an entrance into Goes owne pretence `v with reference unto, which benefit, the :Apoftile efireth¡ to be diffolved and to bee with Chrit, Rhil. i . z ?. Now notwithfranding this goodnelfe which death by accideti, brings along with it , yct being in it felfe a Deftrullive thing, we may lawfully in the defires of our, foule fhrinlc4 from it and decline it. Example whereof wee h-ave in th death of CHRIST hirnfelfe , which was of all as the mot bitter , fo the moll pretious; and yet by reafon of than bitterneffe which was in it , he prayes agaiñf} it,. prcfcn; ting unto his Father the defires of his Soule for that lifq which he came to lay downe : as his obedience to h4 Father, and love to his Church made him moll willing: embrace death, fo his love to the integrity of his humane nature, and feare of fo heavy preffures as he was to feele, made him as ferioufly to decline it. And though thv Apoflledid moll earncflly delire to be with Chritl yet G 3 he
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