II. We shall consider men's attempting to 77!end

or even that crook in their lot. This, in a word, lies i» their making efforts to bring their lot in that point to their own will, that they may both go one way ; so it imports three things :
Firsts A certain uneasiness under the crook in the lot ; it is a yoke which is hard for the party" to bear, till his spirit be tamed and subdued, Jer. xxxi. 18. " Thou hast chastised me, and I was ^•' chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the ^' yoke: Turn thou me, and I shall be turned,'" &c. And it is for the breaking down of the weight of one's spirit that God lays it on; for which cause it is declared to be a good thing to bear it, Lara, iii. 27. that being the way to make one at length as a weaned child.
Secondly^ A strong desire to have the cross re- moved, and to have matters in that part going ac- cording to our inclinations. This is vcr^' natural-^ nature desiring to be freed from eveiy thing that is burdensome or cross to it ; and if that desire be kept in a due subordination to the will of God, and be not too peremptory, it is not sinful, INIatt. xxvi. 39. '' If it be possible, let this cup pass from. *' me ; jtevertlieless, not as I will," &c. Kence so many a^epted prayefS of the people of God, for the removal of the erook in their lot.
.]6 Th€ Crook in the Lot.
Lastly y An earnest use of mearis ior that end* This natively follows on that desire. The man, being pressed with the cross, which is in his crook, labours all he can in the use of means to be rid of it. And if the means used be lawful, and not re- lied upon, but followed with an eye to God in them, the attempt is not sinful either, \vhether he succeed in the use of them or not.