584 / 652
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
of
spirit,
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 wicked
devices 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
how
many 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 insti
uincnts,
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.