II. Particular Directions.

1. Assure yourselves that there are no circum- stances so humbling that you are in, but you may- get your heart acceptably brought down to them. ,1 Cor. X. 13. '^ But God is faithful, who will not ** suffer you to be tempted above what ye are ablc» " but will with the temptation also make a way ** to escape, that ye Aiay be able to bear it." This is truth, 1 Cor. xii. 9. " My grace is sufficient for '* thee ; for my strength is made perfect in wcak- " ness.'' And you would be persuaded of it, witl application to yourselves, if ever you would reach the end. Phil. iv. 13. '* I can do all things thro* *' Christ which strengtheneth me." God allow^ you to be persuaded of it, whatever is your weak ness and the difficulty of the task. " For your *' sakes this is written, that he that ploweth should " plow in hope ; and that he that thresheth in " hope, should be partaker of his hope," 1 Cor. ix. 10. And the belief thereof is a piece of the lif of faith, 2 Tim. ii. 1. If you have no hope of suc- cess, your endeavours, as they will be heartless, so they will be vain. " Whi-^refore lift up the hanu " that hang down, ?.nd the feeble knees," Hcb xii. 12.
2. Whatever hand is, or is not, in )our hum- bling circumstances, do vou take God for your pai ty, and consider yourselves therein as under his mighty hand, Micah vi. 0. Men in their humbling
Tkc Crook in the Lot. 119
circumstances overlook God ; so they iind not
themselves called to humility under them ; they
fix their eyes on the creature instrument, and, in-
^,, stead of humility, their hearts rise. But take him
) for your party, that ye may remember the battle,
^ and do no more, Job xii. G.
3. Be much in the thoughts of God's infinite greatJiess : consider his holiness and m.ajesty, fit to awe you into deepest humiliation, Isa. vi- 3, 4, .*?, Job met with many humbling providences in his case, but he was never sufficient) v humbled un- r der them, till the Lord made a nev/ discover}' of himself unto him, in his innnite mnjesty and great- ness. He kept his ground against his friends, and stood to his points, till the Lord took that method