A. 2, Afflictions make us happy, as they are manuductions to glory. The storm drives the ship »nto the harbour : happy is that storm which drives the soul into the heavenly harbour. Is it not better to go through affliction to glory, than through pleasure to misery ? Not that afflictions merit glory, — no cross ever merited, but that which Christ endured, — but tliey do disponere, and prepare us for glory. Think, O Christian, what affliction leads to, it leads to paradise, where are rivers of pleasure always running ; may not this make us cheerfully submit to God's will, and say. Lord, if there be so much kindness in af- fliction, if all thou doest is to make us hap- py, " thy will be done !"
Ith. Consideration, it is God's ordinary course, to keep liis people to a bitter diet- drink, and exercise them with great trials. Affliction is the beaten road all the saints have gone in ; the lively stones in the spi- ritual buihling have been all hewn and po- lished ; Christ's lily hath grown among the thorns, 2 Tim. iii. 12., " All tliat will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecu- tion." 'Tis too much for a Christum to liave two heavens, that is more than Christ had. It hath been ever the lot of the saints to encounter with sore trials : both of the prophets, James v. 10., " Take, my brethren the prophets for an example of suffering af- fliction :" and of the apostles, — Peter was crucified with his head downward, James beheaded by Herod, John banished into the isle of Patmos, the apostle Thomas thrust thx'ough with a spear, Matthias (who was chosen apostle in Judas's I'oom) was stoned to death, Luke, the evangelist, hanged on an olive-tree. Those saints, of whom the wofld was not worthy, did pass mider the
rod, Heb. xi. 36. Christ's kingdom is reg' num crucis, this is the way God hath alwavs gone in : such as God intends to save from hell, yet he doth not save from the cross. The consideration of this should quiet our minds in affliction, and make us say, " thy will be done." Do we think God will alter his course of providence for us ? Why should we look for exemption from trouble, more than others ? Why should we think to tread only upon roses and violets, when prophets and aj)ostles have marched through the briars to heaven ?
8//i. Consideration, God hath done that for thee, Christian, which may make thee con- tent to suffer any thing at his hand, and say, " thy will be done."
(1.) He hath adopted thee for his child. David thought it no small honour to be the king's son-in-law, I Sam. xviii. 18. What an honour is it to derive thy pedigree from heaven, to be born of God? Why then art thou troubled, and murmurest at every slight cross ? As Jonadab said to Amnon, 2 Sam. xiii. 4., " Wiiy art thou, being the king's son, lean ?" So, why art thou, who art son or daughter to the king of heaven, troubled at these petty things ? What I the king's son, and look lean ! This may quiet thy spirit, and bring thy will to God's ; he hath dignified thee with honour, he hath made thee his son and heir, and will entail a kingdom on thee.
(2.) God hath given thee Christ. Christ is connmmis thesaurus, — a magazine or store- house of all heavenly treasure,— a pearl of price to enrich, a tree of life to quicken,- - he is the quintessence of all blessings : why then art thou discontented at thy worldly crosses ? Tiiey cannot be so bitter as Christ is sweet. As Seneca said once to Polybius, " Why dost thou complain of hard fortune, salvo Ccesare! Is not Ca*sar thy friend?" So, is not Christ thy friend ? lie can never be poor who hath a mine of gold in his field ; nor he who hath the unsearchable riches of Christ. Say then. Lord, " thy will be done ;" though I have my cross, yet I have Christ with it. The cross may make me weep, but Christ wij)es off all tears, Wvx. vii. 17.
(3.) God hath given thee grace. Grace is the rich eml)roidery and workmanship of the Holy Ghost; it is the sacred unction.
OF THE THIRD PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
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1 Jolin ii. 27. Tlic jjraccs are a cliaiii of pearl to adorn, ami beds of spices wliicli make us a sweet odour to God ; grace is a distin<yuisliing blessiiijf, Christ fi^ave Judas liis purse but not liis Spirit. May not this quiet tlie beart in affliction, and make it say, *' thy will be done ?" Lord, tliou iiast given me that jewel which thou bestowest only on the elect ; grace is a seal of thy love, it is both food and cordial, it is an earnest of glory.
9///. Consideration, when God intends the greatest mercy to any of liis jieople he brings them low in affliction. God seems to go quite cross to sense and reason ; when he intends to raise us highest, he brings us lowest. As Moses' hand, before it wrought miracles, was leprous ; and Sarah's womb before it brought fortli the son of the pro- mise, was barren ; God brings us low before he raiseth us, as water is at the lowest ebb before there is a spring-tide.