Use 2d. Of exhortation. Let us be ex- horted, whatever troubles God doth exer- cise us with, cpquo animo ferre, to resign up our wills to God, and sav, *' Tliv will he done." Which is fittest, that God should bring his will to ours, or we bring our will to his? Say as Eli, I Sam. iii. 18., " It is the Lord, let him do what seenieth him good ;" and as David, 2 Sam. xv. 26., " Be- hold, here am I, let him do to me as seem- eth good unto him !" It was the saying of Ilarpulas, placit milii quod reyi placit^ ' that, pleaseth me which pleaseth the king,' — so should we say, that which j)leaseth God pleaseth us, " Thy will be done." Some have not yet learned this art of submission to God; and truly he who wants patience
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OF THE THIRD PETITION IN THE LORDS PRAYER.
in aflliction, is like a soldier in battle who •wants armour.
Quest. JVhen do we not, as we ought, sub- mit to GocTs 7cill in affliction ? ■ Ans. 1. AVhen we have hard thoughts of God, and our hearts begin to swell against him
A. 2. When we are so troubled at our present affliction, that we are unfit for duty. We can mourn as doves, but not pray or praise God. We are so discomposed, that we are not fit to hearken to any good coun- sel, Exod. vi. 9., " They liearkened not to Moses for anguish of spirit." Israel were so full of grief under their present burdens, that they minded not what Moses said, though he came with a message from God to them : " They hearkened not to Moses for anguish of spirit."
A. 3. We do not submit as we ought to God's will, \vlien we labour to break loose from aflliction by indirect means. Many, to rid themselves out of trouble, run them- selves into sin ; when God hath bound them with tlie cords of aflliction, they go to the devil to loosen their bands. Better it is to stay in affliction, than to sin ourselves out of affliction. O let us learn to stoop to God's will in all afflictive providences.
Quest. But how shall we bring ourselves to (his Christian temper, in all occurrences of jirovidtnce, patiently to acquiesce in God's Will, and say, " thy will be done ?' ff'e know not what trials, personal or relational, we may he exercised with. JVe scan now to be under the planet Saturn, which hath a muUgnaiit as- pect. Our ship is steered so strangely, that we are in danger, on one hand, of the sands, on the other hand, of the rocks. If affliction comes, how shall we keep a Christian decorum ? How shall we bear things with eqtianimity of mind, and say, *' thy will be done?"
Ans. Tlie means for a quiet resignation to God's will in affliction are :
1. Judicioiis consideration, Eccl. vii. 14., " In tlie day of adversity consider." Wlien any thing burdens us, or runs cross to our desires, did we but 'sit down and consider, and weigh things in the balance of judg- ment, it would much quiet our minds, and subject our wills to God ; " in the day of adversity consider." Consideration would be as David's harp, to charm down
the evil spirit of frowardness and discon- tent.
Quest. But ichat should we consider ?
Ans. That which may make us submit to God in affliction, and say, " thy will be done," is,
1st. To consider, that the present state ot life is subject to afflictions, as a seaman's life is subject to storms. J'erre quam sortem omnes patiuntur nemo recusal. Job v. 7., " Man is born to trouble ;" he is heir ap- parent to it ; he conies into the world with a cry, and goes out with a groan. Ed lege nati sumus. The world is a place where much wormwood grows. Lam. iii. 15., " He hath filled me with bitterness," (Ileb.) with bitternesses ; lie hath made me drunk with wormwood. Troubles arise like sparks out of a furnace. Afflictions are some of tlie thorns which the earth after the curse brings forth. We may as well think to stop the chariot of the sun when it is in its swift motion, as put a stop to trouble. The con- sideration of this, our life is exposed to eclipses and sufferings, should make us say with patience, " thy will be done." Shall a mariner be angry that he meets with a storm at sea ?