SECT. II.l IN REGARD OF GOD. 473 111. Another advantage of these humbling thoughts of ourselves is this, that we shall bear with more patience the afflicting hand of God upon us, and wait longer for the moment of deliverance without murmuring. These selfabasing sentiments under heavy sorrows will incline us to confess, " Lord 1 have deserved them all," and will teach us to speak the language of the prophet Micah, chapter vii. verse 9. " I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, till he arise and plead my cause." When, Oh my soul, wilt thou learn this holy behavi- our i? When wilt thou learn this humble language ; If the Lord bestow no temporal blessings upon me, I lie at his foot; he is not my debtor, I deserve no blessing from his hands: If he take away part of my substance and my wealth, I have deserved to be deprived of it all, for my unprofitableness, for my earthly mind, for my va- nity and the pride of my heart. If I have food and rai- ment I will therewith be content ; it is much more than I have deserved. If I am sick and in pain, I would re- member rhat I am guilty, and be punishes less than my iniquities deserve. If I am stripped naked of my earthly comforts, I resign them to his disposal, I can claim none of them as my merit, or as my property ; " the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, and blessed be the name of the Lord :" He has done no more than he has a right to do with a worthless worm, and I lie in the dust before him, waiting his good pleasure. Such a temper of mind carries peace and serenity in it, not without some glimpses of pious hope and humble expectation. " I will lay my mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope" in the grace of God, which loves to triumph over the un- worthiness of creatures. But let us now turn the tables, and view the different temper and conduct of the man who has high thoughts of himself. When he is under the afflicting stroke of heaven he imagines he bas deserved some better treat- ment at the hand of God, and though he dares not say this to his Maker's face, yet the inward vexation and rage, the disquietude and resentment of his heart under afflictions, is such as would vent itself in loud murmurs and reproaches against heaven if it durst : And because he dams not suffer his passion and fury to rise thu against
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=