Senn. LXXXIV. in his Providence. G35 many things which are grievous and tedious to them: but the Parent and the Matter know very well, that it is their Ignorance and Inconfideratenefs which makes them to think fo, and that when they come to Years, and to urider(tand themfelves better, then they will acknowledge, that all that which gave them fo muchdifcontent, was really for their good, and that it was their Childifhnefs and Folly, whichmade them to thinkotherwife, and that they had in all proba- bility been undone, had they been indulged in their humour, and permitted in every thing to have their own will; they had not Wit and Confideration e- nough, to truft the Difcretion of their Parents and Governors, and to believe that even thofe things which were fo difpleafing to them, would at laft tend to their good. There is a far greater diftance between the Wifdom of God and Men, and we are infinitely more Ignorant and Childith in refped of God, than our Chil- dren are in refpe& of us; and being perfwaded of this, we ought to reckon, that while we are in this World, under God's care and difcipline, it is neceftary for our good, that we be reftrained in many things, which we eagerly del re; and fuffer many things that are grievous to us; and that when we come to Heaven, and are grown up to be Men, and have put away childifh thoughts, and are come to underftand Things as they truly are, and not in a riddle, and darknefs, as we nowdo; then the7udgmentof God, will breakforth as thelight, and the righ- teoufnef of all his dealings as the Noon-Day, then all the Riddles of Providence will be clearly expounded to us, and we (hall fee a plain Reafon for all thofe Difpenfa- tions whichwe were fo much ftumbled at, and acknowledge the great- Wifdom and Goodnefs ofthem. You fee then what Reafon there is to refer our felVesto the Providence ofGod, and to call all our care upon him, to ttuft him with the Adminiftrationand Difpo- fal of our Concernments, and firmly to believe, that if we love God, and be careful to pleafe him, every thing in the iffue will turn to the beltfor us ; and therefore we fhould not anxioufly trouble our felves about the Events of things, but refign up our felves to the good pleafure of him, who difpofeth all thingsac- cording to the Counfel ofhis Will, entirely trufting in his goodnefs, and in his Fa- therly care of us, and affeûion to us ; that he will order all things for us, for the bell, referring the fuccefs of all our Concernments to him, in whofe hands are all theways ofthe Children of Men, chearfully fubmiting to his determination, and the Declarations ofhis Providence in every cafe. And this is a proper Expreffion of our Confidence in God's Wifdom and Good- nefs, to refer things to him before the Event, and to fay with the Chriftians, Ads zr. 54. The willof the Lord be done; becaufe this thews that we are per- fwaded that God will do better for us, than our own Counfel and Choice ; and to fubmit to his will after the Event, is likewife a great inflance of our Con- fidence in him, and that we believe that he hath done that which is bell: For when God, by his Providence, declares his Will in any cafe, we thould look upon it, as the Sentence ofawifeand juft Judge, in which all Parties concerned ought to acquiefce, and reft fully fatisfied. And this may well be expe&ed from us Chriftians, who have much greater affurance of the Particular Providence of God, than the Heathens had; and yet force of them,, were able to free themfelves from all trouble and anxiety, from murmuring and difcontent. Upon this Confideration, Epitletas (as Arrian tells us). would exprefs himfelf thus, Ihadalways rather have that which happens ; becaufe l efleem that better which God wills, than that which 1jhouldwill: and again, lift up thine Eyes, (lays he) with conffdence to God, and fay, henceforth, Lord, deal with me as thou pleafefl, ósevoynw,uoved ool, tag, ti u. Iam ofthe fame opinion with thee, jug ofthefame mind thatthou art ; I refufe nothing thatfeems goodto thee; lead me where thou wilt, Cloath me with what Garments thou pleafefl, fit me in a publick Place, or keep me in a private Condition, continue me in mine own Coun- try, or banifb me from it, bellow Wealth upon me, or leave me to conflict anditrug- ile, with Poverty, which of theft thoupleafefl, Èyoi so; iedp ásdrrcee Wftwv me_ó; p,ors; áTohoyñooesau. If men fhall cenfure this Providence towards me, and fay Mmmmt thou
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