Book III. ofjBSUs Christ. 197

Chap. XXXIV.
^ow God e tight to le add re [fed to in Time of Ad-
uerfjtj.
Difciple.] 'TpHE Lordgiveth^ and the Lord takePb awa}f A I^IeJJed he the Name cf the ^^^ j ^^ Lord. Yea^blefTed be thy Name, for this ve- ry Calamity /A/ith which thy Fatherly Wifdomand Af- fedion hath now thought fit to cbaiHfe and try me. I eannot flee from the Scourge of thy Rod 5- but I will fly to thee for Succour j and beg that thou wouldftaf- flit me with thy Patience, and turn all my Sufferings to my Soul's Advantage. I am indeed in trouble ; and cannot but eonfefs the prefent Diforder, u^hieh this Misfortune gives me. But this is my own Infirmity « and I know not what to Tray for as I ought. ^^^^ ^Ijl ,^ For what fhall I fay ? Lordja'ue me from "John xii. * this Hour^ No, deareft Father, thou hadft not brought me to this Hour, had it net been for th^ Glory, and my own Good. And therefore I will ra- ther beg, that my Affliction may continue till thy gra- cious Purpofes are accomplifiied in me j and, wher* thou feelt me fufficiently humbled, that then and no£ before, thou would'it refrefh, and raifg, and deiiver me out of it.
For my delivefance, I arri duly fenfible, can eom^ from no other Hand ^ fince I my felf am weak, and( poor, and blind, and know ftot what is bcft, or what to do. Grant me then, bleffed Lord, a Kcfcue iri thy own due time; and in the mean while (trengtheri me with Patience, that by thy powerful Aid Im^f bear up againft the fharpeft Tribulations ^ without Defpondency or Diitradion» Not my Wili^ Lord^ bat thine he done^ fliall be the eonltant Language of tnj H^art i{ My finful Heart ^ whkh agkiiowkdg.t? thy
198 m t\)t 9inittat!0n Book III.
Mercy in the midft of Wrath ,• and fadly rcfitds, that thoiihafi punifhed me much lefsthan my Offences de- ferve. O that this humble Senfe cf my own Guilt may work in me fuch quiet and contented Submiffion to thy Wiil^ that I may neither unduly decline, nor unthankfully murmur at the weight or the length of my Sufferings, till thou fee fit to compofe this Storm, and reftore to me the Comforts of thy Favour and in- dulgent Providence/
For, if the Tempeft ftill rage, this is not theEffed of want of Power in thee to quiet it^ but becaufea perfed Calmisnotyetfeafonableforme. Thy migh- ty Hand can lay it in a moment: Thou canft abate its Fury, or thou canft protect and fupport me under its Violence and Extremity. I know thou canft ^ for thou haft taught me by my own Experience, and the Re- membrance of thy former Mercies will not fuffer me to doubt the Efficacy of thy Power. But, in propor- tion as my Grief and Burthen is greater, fo much the fweeter and more refrefiiing let thy healing Virtue, and Spiritual Confolations be ^ and let me feel thy I Cor. X. 17. g'^acious Promife, J/oat thou wilt not fuffer thy Serva7its to be tempted aho've that they ars ahUy hut wilt with the Temptation alfo make a waj to efcape^ that they may be able to bear it.
CHAP. XXXV.
How the Divine Ajfiflance fhould he fought^ and depended upon,
Chrlfi.'] T Am thatLord,mySon,whois the Stronghold
jl of AiiiidedMen in theTime of Trouble j and
Nnhum I. i^ whom thou doftwelito take Sanduary,
in ail thy Diftreffes. But, if thy Comforts
make
i