Of,early Aifli8ion~. ·It:r ef ·liberty, ·when our. defires are denied,· and we havc .cot our wills, cannot ramble tlp and dov~n ·as we_pleafe; and alfo the prdfure ofaffiietions whicb gauJ and tor– n1erit us, under which we fmart anGI · groan. S·i..lch !s t11~ y-oke \vhich the Prophet ~ells us it is.goodflr a ·man that he 'bear. A ihange doetrine indeed to flefh an~ blood :! ,and ,Q how few do believe it! We judge of · things by their outward appearance, and as they affect us at prefent, (Now no affliEliott .or cha/iening flem.etb fir the prifent to be j p_yous, but g rievous*); and we cannot perfuade ourfelves that there 1s any good in. that which we feel to be troubelfome and :un,pleafant. But, if we confult our realol'l .apd our faith, they will foon bring U$ to the ·acknol·1ledgn1ent of this truth, That Af-– jliflion c~m·eth not fi rth if the duff, neither doth troubfe.jpring out of the grounrl. The cro!Tes \Ve meet w! th, are not the ef– feCls of blind chance; but the refults of a· w-ife and unerringprovidGnce, whichknow~ eth what is -fittefi for us and 1ovetb us bet– ter than we can do .ourfelves. There 'is no malice or envy lodged in the hofom of that hltfled being, whofe nan1~ and .nature is lovf. IIc tal<:eth no delight in the Q. trouble Heb xii, I l /
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