102 SINS AND SORROWS SPREAD BEFORE GOD. [SEAM. VI. God indulges me the favour of his ear, I would spread their wants and sorrows before him, together with my own, and make supplication for all the saints. I would leave .a petition at the mercy-seat for my native coun- try, that knowledge and holiness may overspread the nation : that our king may be a nursing father to the church, and our princes may be blessings to the land. And while I send up my request for the British islands, I would breathe out many a sigh for Zion, that she may he thejoy of the whole earth. I proceed now to, III. The third head of enquiry, which is this; why does a saint, when he gets near to God, delight to tell him all his circumstances, and all his sorrows? In general I might say this, because it is so seldom, at least in our day, that a saint gets very near to God;: therefore, when he finds that happy minute, he says to his God all that he wants to say; he tells him all his heart, he pours out all his wants before him; because these seasons are very few. It is but here and there an extraordinary christian, who maintains constant near- ness to God : The best complain of too much distance and estrangement. But to descend to particulars. 1. He is our chief friend, and it is an ease to the soul to vent itself in the bosom of a friend, when we are in his company. More especially as it was in the case of Job, whenother friends failed him when he had begun to tell them some of his sorrows, and withal maintained his own integrity; they would not believe him, but be -, came his troublers instead of his comforters: Myfriends scornme, says Job, chap. xvi. 20. but mine eye pour- eth out tears unto God. I go to my best friend, my friend in heaven, when my friends here on earth neglect me. Man is a sociable creature, and our joys and our sor- rows are made to be communicated, that thereby we may double the one, and alleviate the other. There is scarce any piece of human nature, be it never so stupid, but feels some satisfaction in the pleasure of a friend, in communicating the troubles and-the pleasures that it feels; but those that have God for their highest and best friend, they love to be often exercising such acts of friendship with him; and rather with him than with any friend besides, rather with him than with all besides him. This
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