JT$ COD'S HAND ACKNOWLEDGED IN AFFLICTION. there are things above prepared for his comforts. It is giving too much to creatures, and more than God de- signed ever should be, to make them the objects of our joys and sorrows continually. 2. By this we preserve ourselves from those passions, those evil surmises ofspirit, which we frequently are lia- ble to when we look only to second causes ; but a sense of the hand of God overawes the soul of a saint. See this duty required and commended'for the very same end that I mention it here, in Psalm xxxvii. 7, 8, " Rest in Me Lord, and wait patiently for him : (This was under afflicting :sorrows as the context assures us.) Fret ndt thyself because of him that 'prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wickeddevices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath : fret not thyself." It is anger and wrath that is the natural effect of our looking to second causes, and therefore our eye is com- manded off from them. Sinners were instrumental in his sorrows ; he was become the reproach of the foolish, but yet, says he, " I was dumb, I opened no my mouth, because THOU didst it." Let us consider then how much sin is prevented, and howmany uneasy disor- ders to our spirits that are disagreeable to others, and contrary to God's nature and law, are avoided, by look- ing less to instr'urnents and more to the hand of God. 3. By this we attain greater peace and speedier com- fort under troubles for when we have committed our souls and our bodies, all that we are, and all that is ours, into the hands of our God, we can trust hirn with all : for we have devoted all to him : we can rest in his love, we can be satisfied in a kind providence that suffers us to be thus afflicted for a season, and our souls are all at peace ; we can then believe he will conduct us by his grace, and though it be in a thorny way, yet it shall end in glory. There have been some not only so carnal, but so ridiculous and senseless, as to fret at the very pains and diseases, and inanimate creatures which have been the instruments of their sorrow: but, alas ! by this our sorrows are increased ; for we should look both upon rational and inanimate agents as God's instiuincnts, by which he accomplishes his pleasure towards us. It is in some measure fretting against God when we continually look at his instruments, and vent our anger against them.
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