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that which is according to his taste, but that which is for his interest and real advantage. This is the foundation of that paradox in scripture, Happy is the man whom God correcteth: and of this also, that believers should count it all joy, when they fall into divers temptations. This is not astonishing, unless it be so to them who view all things with carnal apprehensions; on the contrary, such sentiments fill those sufferers with great consolation, that receive the evils of life in the same spirit in which it pleased God to send them.

Whence then is it, that after all this, we are yet discouraged? Whence is it, we are again in fear, and tremble at the prospect of tribulation? Should not that which promotes our happiness increase our joy? Should we complain of a little labor, when it is attended with so much profit? We expose our selves on all occasions; we run hazards; we willingly suffer to procure transient good, even when we are not sure we shall succeed. Shall it be permitted to discover weakness, where the reward is so great, and so certain? Behold then, what is the reason of this great disorder; we have yet too high ideas of the goods of this life, we esteem them much beyond their value; but we conceive of those blessings which God has set before us, only in a low and sordid manner, which excite nothing more than feeble desires towards them; so that, when other satisfactions fail us, we are not able to comfort ourselves with these. But let us endeavor to comprehend the greatness of those advantages

which God has set before us; let us endeavor to obtain a clear view of the nothingness of those which the world presents, and then, when the providence of God shall deprive us of the latter, to put us in the possession of the former, we shall easily acquiesce in such a revolution.

OTHER OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.

If the end of providence should give us great satisfaction in the day of trial, the manner in which God governs the affairs of this world, will furnish us with additional satisfaction. All things round about us roll on in a perpetual state of inconstancy; what is upon the earth, as well as what is in the heavens, are always in motion. Men are born, live a limited time, and then they die. Now they are in health, then in sickness. Sometimes their designs succeed, and sometimes every thing runs against them. Thus, some rise, and others fall; and the very same persons, at one time, are in prosperity, and have reason to rejoice; and at another time, they are in deep distress. On one side, this is the cross and torment of worldly men; the goods on which there hearts are passionately set, are not stable; they escape every hour out of their hands; but this, on the other side, is the consolation of the afflicted, especially of believers; for the little time which they can suffer, is always one thing that mitigates their misery. It was necessary such an order should be established to blend disgust with the pleasures of life, and to

raise in men, a relish for superior good. Had we been created only to enjoy an animal life, we might have been limitted to visible objects; but being designed for higher enjoyments, we must not rest in sensual gratifications, but aspire to that which makes us truly happy. Here, we have a proof of the divinity of the christian religion; since it shews us the same providence which governs the world, has disposed of every thing in it, in subordination to our chief good. For man cannot make a good use of his reason, (when he considers the vanity and misery which are diffused through every thing pertaining to this life,) if he does not draw this inference, that God calls him by this fact, to forsake the world, and to seek after those blessings which are promised in the gospel.

From this appointment, and purpose, it follows, that our prosperity is never of long duration. It not only ends at death, but however short our life is, we never pass entirely through it, without meeting with many misfortunes, from which we seldom extricate ourselves so soon as we expected; nor without real and great distress. Even in those seasons in which God is pleased to assist and deliver us, and to give us a little reviving in our bondage, this favor is not granted to exempt us from future afflictions. God only shews us this indulgence, that we may not be consumed by fiery trials, and that we may renew our courage, and prepare ourselves for succeeding combats. This is the line of conduct which he has always regarded towards

his church. It is in this manner, that some pass through life. This is the common dispensation of the providence of God, as represented by David in the hundred and seventh psalm. His words are, He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into a dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into water springs: and there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; and sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease: again, they are minished and brought low, through oppression, affliction, and

sorrow.

But on the other hand, this same dispensation, prescribes limits to the duration of our troubles. They may be compared with storms; the heavens are covered on all sides; the wind rises, the air is obscured; all is in agitation, without the least appearance of serenity; a heavy rain descends; but this torrent breaks, and disperses the clouds; the sky is discharged of vapours, and the sun again appears. There wants but little to produce alarming revolutions; and by occasional causes, seemingly as trivial, pleasing events are sometimes produced. Ahasuerus could not sleep; he calls for the book of records; that is to say, the history of his reign and family; he learns from those records

he

he was much indebted to the fidelity of Mordecai, who was but ill rewarded for his service: there required no more to save the Jews from misery, against whom a dreadful edict had been recently published.

The will of such a prince as Ahasuerus, decides the fate of his people. The most enlightened monarch cannot see every thing himself; but if he loves justice, all his faithful subjects may hope a time will come, in which he will acknowledge their innocence, whatever impressions he may have received to the contrary. God holds the hearts of kings in his hands; he turns them as he pleaseth, according to the different designs which he has formed concerning them that he has placed under their authority. On this account, we should never despair of their entering into the dispositions which we desire; especially, when we are conscious, we have not only conformed ourselves to what is just, but to the interest both of their persons and government.

Thus, it appears, in whatever state things are, we may yet hope for favorable revolutions. The church rises again out of her ashes. Jesus Christ waits to manifest his power towards Lazarus, till he is carried to the grave. Believers hope against hope. Sarah may yet become fruitful, and Abraham may yet have children, although both of them were past age. When the ship is at the point of sinking, when it is foundering, Christ awakes

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