234 THE WORLD TO COME. What will he answer, when with a dreadful frown the great God shall demand of him, Friend, how Gamest thou hither? Mat. xii. 12. Who sent for thee, or gave thee leave to come ? Such a wretch must venture upon so rash an action at the peril of the wrath of God, and his own eternal destruction. " Our blessed Jesus, who has all the vast scheme of divine counsels before his eyes, by having the books of his Father's decrees put into his hinds, he knows how long it is proper for thee, O Christian, to fight and labour, to wrestle and strive with sins, temptations and difficulties in the present life : He knows best in what moment to put a period to them, and to pronounce thee conqueror. Fly not from the field of battle for want of holy fortitude, though thy enemies and thy dangers be never so many, nor dare to dismiss thyself from thy appointed post, till the Lord of life pronounce the word of thy dismission. " Sometimes I have been ready to say within myself, Why is my life prolonged in sorrow ? Why are my days lengthened out to see further wretchedness ? Methinks the grave should be ready for me, and the house appointed for all the living; Job xvii. I. xxx. 23. What can I do further for God or for man here on earth, since my nature pines away with painful sickness, my nerves are unstrung, my spirits dissipated, and my best powers of acting are enfeebled and almost lost ? Peace, peace, O thou complaining spirit ! Dost thou know the counsels of the Almighty, and the secret designs of thy God and thy Sa.. viour ? He has many deep and unknown purposes in continuing bis children amidst heavy sorrows, which they can never pene- trate or learn in this world. Silence and submission becomes thee at all times. Father, not my will but thy will be done Luke xxii. 42. " And let it be hinted to thee, O my soul, that it is much more honourable to be weary of this life, because of the sins and temptations of it, than because of the toils and sorrows that attend it. If we must groan in this tabernacle being burdened; 2 Cor. v. 4. let the snares, and the dangers, and the defilements of it be the chief springs of thy groaning and the warmest mo- tives to request a release. God loves to see his people more afraid of sin than of sorrow. If thy corruptions are so strong, and the temptations of life so unhappily surround thee, that thou art daily crying out, Who shall deliver thee from the body of sin and death ; Rom. vii. 24. then thou mayest more honourably send up a wish to heaven, O that I had the wings of a dove, that 1 might fly away and be at rest! Ps. Iv. 6. 0 that God would hide me in the grave from my prevailing iniquities, and from the ruffling and disquieting influence of my own follies and my daily temptations ! But never be thou quite weary of doing or suffering the will of thy heavenly Father, though he should
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