Book III. of J fi s u $ Christ. 2^9

out, which may caft Imputations upon the Honour of God, impeach the Juftice and Goodnels of Provi- dence, or give Offence to thy weaker Brethren. For, by thus manning and guarding well the Outworks, thy inward Commotions will in time be compofed ; thy Sorrow by degrees (hall turn into Joy, and the Favour and Mercy of God be inclined to relieve and comfort thee, in recompence for thy Reverence and Submiflion to his good Pleafure.
As I lizfey faith the Lord^ I willhclf thee fpeedilj, and comfort them who earnefily feek me, who put their trufi in my Saltation, Call up thy Chriftian Fortitude, and fmk not under thy Burden, but prepare for greater Trials. If thy former Troubles have overwhelmed thy Spirits, and prevailed over thy Temper and thy Virtue ,• let not the Remembrance of thy former Trials difcourags thee. The Lord knoweth whereof thou art >, . ... wadsy he remembreth that thou art but Dufi : A Man, and not God ; Flefh, and not Angel, or un- bodied Spirit j How canft thou then expe in an undifturb'd ftate of Goodnefs ? How fhould thy Virtue be above the fliocks and (bakings of Temp- tation, when even the Angels kept not their firft Ellate ^ and Man in Paradile, fo foon fell from In- nocence ? I sm thy fole Protection, who raife the Souls dejected with Sorrow, preferve thofe who ac- knowledge and bewail their own Weaknefs, and glorify with my felf the humble Chriitians, who are afhamed of their Follies and Mifcarriages.
Difciple.'] BlefTed b^ thy Mercy, for the gracious Words which drop from thy Mouth, foft as the gentle Dew, and (weeter than Honey and the Hony-comb. What would become of me, in the extremity of my Diflrefs and Anguifli of my Soul, did not thy Promi- fes and feafonable Inftrudions refrefh and comfort me ? But be it as thou wilt j for I cannot think it any great niacter, how long or boiftcrous my Voyage is^ fothou
7.1 o ^f tfte limitation Book iil
at laft conduct me fafe to that peaceful Haven, where good Men are at reft. Let my Afflictions be never fo great, fo thou grant a happy IfTue, and turn my Suf- ferings to good efFed. Be my Condition in this Life Adverfe or Profperous, no Profperity will profit, no Adverfity harm me, but in proportion to the State in. which I die. And if I go well out of the World, my continuance in it cannot be fo troublefome, that I fiiould have caufe to repent or complain. Order my Affairs then as thou pleafeft j but always, O my God, remember me for good. Lead me in the right and ready way to thy Kingdom, difpofe my every A(5lion towards the attainment of Salvation, and let me fo fafs through things Tern f oral y that 1 fnally lofe not the things Eternal. Amen.
CHAP. LXIIL
Again]} Prying into Things too high for us^ and pre- tending to Fathom the Depths of God and Provi- dence.
Chrift,'] Y\ ^ ^0^> ^y ^^"j ^^^^ "PO^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^f" JL^ pute, or determine any thing concern- ing abftrufe and difficult Points^ nor too curioufly en- quire into thofe myfterious Difpenfacions, which God hath purpofely concealed from thee. Concern not thy felf about the amazing Diftributions of Grace or Providence ,• why one Man is forfaken and in dif- fdvour with God, another fo furprizingly indulged by him ,• This Perfon exercifed with Afflidions and Sorrows, or That fo gently dealt with, fo unaccoun- tably exalted. Thefe are things out of thy Sphere : and all the Parts and Penetration, the acuteft Wit, and acquired Improvements of Man^ are much too
fiiort