V. 3, 4, 5. And -it is certainly an ill-managed

crook in our lot when we get not some spiritual goodofit, Heb. xi. 21. The crook is a kind of spi- ritual medicine; and as it is lost physic that purges away no ill humours, but in vain are its unpleasant- ness to the taste, and its grij)ings endured ; so it is a lost crook, and ill is the bitterness of it wared, that wc arc net bettered by, Isa. xxyii' 9. " Bv
The Crook in tjte LoU m
*' this, therefore, shall the iniquity of Jacob be " purged, and this is all the fruit, to take a\Tay his " sin."
Motives to press this exhortation. Consider^
1. There will be no evening of it while God sQi:s meet to continue it. Let us carry under it as we will, and make what sallies we please in the case, it will continue immoveable, as fi^ed with bands of iron and brass, job xxii. 13, 14. " But he is " of one mind, and who can turn him ? And what •^ his soul desireth, even that he doth. Verse 14. '' For he performeth the thing that is appointed for *' me : and many such things are with him." Is it not wisdom then to make the best we may of wh?t we cannot mend ? Make a virtue then of necessity. What is not to be cured must be endured, and should with a Christian resignation.
2. An aukward carriage under it notably in- creases thQ pain of it. "What makes the yoke gall our necks, but that we struggle so much against it^ and cannot let it sit at ease on us, Jer. xxxi. 18. How often are we in that case, like men dashing their heads against a rock to remove it? The rock stands unmoved, but they are wounded and lose exceedingly by their struggle. Impatience under the crook lays an over-weight on the burden, and makes it heavier, while vriilial it weakens us, and makes us less able to bear it.
o. The crook in thy lot is the special trial God has chosen out for thee to take thy mea- sure by, 1 Pet. i. 6, 7. It is God's fire, where- by he tries what metal men are of; heaven's touch-stone for discovering of true and counterfeir Christians. They may bear, and go through se- veral trials, Vvhich the crook in the lot will disco- or to be naught, because by no means they can
68 The Crook in the Lot,
bear that, Mark x. 21, 22. Think then with thy- self under it, Now here the trial of my state turns, I must by this be proven either sincere or a hypo- crite ; for, can any be a cordial subject of Christ, without being able to submit his lot to him ? Do not all who sincerely come to Christ, put a blank in his hand ? Acts ix. 6. Psal. xlvii. 4. And does he not tell us, that without that disposition we are not his disciples, Luke xiv. 26. " If any man come to *'me, and hate not his father, and mother, and *' wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters ; •'yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my dis- ** ciple." Perhaps you find you submit to any thing but that; but will not that but mar all? Mark x. 21. Did ever any hear of a sincere closing with Christ, with a reserve or exception of one thing, wherein they behoved to be their own lords ?
^lest. *• Is that disposition then a qualification ' necessarily pre-required to our believing : And if 'so, where must we have it? Can we work it out
* of our natural powers :'
Ans, No, it is not so ; but it necessarily accom- panies and goes along with believing, flowing from the same saving illumination in the knowledge of Christ, whereby the soul is brought to believe on him. Hereby the soul sees^him an able Saviour, 50 trusts on him for salvation ; the rightful Lord, and infinitely wise Ruler, and so submits the lot to him. Matt. xiii. 45, 46. The soul taking him for a Saviour, takes him also for a Head and Ruler. It is Christ's giving himself to us, and our receiv- ing him, that causes us quit other things to and for him, as it is the light dispels the darkness.
Ca'^e. *"Alas! I cannot get ihy heart freely to
* submit my lot to him in that point.'
The Crock m the Lot, 69
Ans, 1. That submission will not be carried on. in any without ^stnig'gce; the old man will never submit it, and when the new man of grace is sub- znittirig it, the old man will still be reclaiming, Gal-