Secondly, Look downward, and see what is below you, as well as up to that which is above you. You are afflicted, and you cannot bear it. Oh ! no trouble like your trouble ! never man in such a case as you are ! Well, well, cast the eye of your mind downward, and see those who lie much lower than you. Can you see none on earth in a more miserable state than yourselves ? Are you at the verv bottom, and not a man below you ? sure there are thousands in a sadder case than you on earth. What is your affliction ? Have vou lost a relation ? others have lost all. Have you lost an estate, and are become poor ? Well, but there are some you read of, Job xxx. 4, 5, 6, 7. " Who cut up mallows by the bushes, " and juniper-roots for their meat. They are driven forth from " among men, they cried after them as after a thief. They dwell " in the cliffs of the vallies, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks. " Among the bushes they braved, under the nettles they were " gathered together/' What difference, as to manner of life, do you find between the persons here described, and the wild beasts, that herd together in a desolate place ? Are you persecuted and afflicted for Christ's sake? What think you of their sufferings, Heb. xi. 36, 37. " Who had trial of cruel mockings ; yea, more- " over of bonds and imprisonments : they were stoned, they were " sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword, they " wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, " afflicted, tormented." And are you better than they ? I know not what you are ; but I am sure, these were such " of whom the " world was not worthy, " ver. 38.
Or are your afflictions more spiritual and inward ? Say not the Lord never dealt more bitterly with the soul of any, than he hath with yours. What think you of the case of David, Heman, Job, Asaph, whose doleful cries, by reason of the terrors of the Al- mighty, are able to melt the stoniest heart that reads their stories ? the Almighty was a terror to them : the arrows of God were within them ; they roared by reason of the disquietne»s of their hearts.
Or are your afflictions outward and inward together ; an afflicted soul in an afflicted body ? Are you fallen, like the shin in which Paul sailed, into a place where two seas meet ! Well, si> it was with
366 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 5ERM. XXIX.
Paul, Job, and many other of those worthies gone before you. Sure you may see many on earth who have been, and are in far lower and sadder states than yourselves.
Or if not on earth, doubtless, you will yield there are many in hell, who would be glad to change conditions with you, as bad as you think yours to be. And were not all these moulded out of the same lump with you ? Surely, if you can see any creature be- low you, especially any reasonable being, you have no reason to return so ungratefully upon your God, and accuse your Maker of severity ,• or charge God foolishly. Look down, and you shall see grounds enough to be quiet.
Thirdly, Look inward, you discontented spirits, and see if you can find nothing there to quiet you. Cast your eye into your own hearts ; consider either the corruptions or the graces that are there. Cannot you find weeds enough there, that need such winter- weather as this to rot them? Hath not that proud heart need enough of all this to humble it ? That carnal heart need of such things as these to mortify it ? That backsliding, wandering heart need of all this to reduce and recover it to its God ? " If need be, " ye are in heaviness," 1 Pet. i. 6. O Christian ! didst thou not see need of this before thou earnest into trouble ? Or hath not God shewn thee the need of it since thou wast under the rod ? It is much thou shouldest not see it ; but be assured, if thou dost not, thy God doth : he knows thou wouldest be ruined for ever, if he should not take this course with thee.
Thy corruptions require all this to kill them. Thy lusts will take all this, it may be more than this, and all little enough. And as vour corruptions call for it, so do your graces too. Wherefore think ye the Lord planted the principles of faith, humility, pa- tience, fyc. in your souls ? What, were they put there for nothing ? Did the Lord intend they should lie sleeping in their drowsy ha- bits ? Or were they not planted there in order to exercise ? And how shall they be exercised without tribulations ? Can you tell ? Doth not " tribulation work patience, and patience experience, " and experience hope P" Rom. v. 3, 4. Is not " the trial of " your faith much more precious, than of gold which perishes," 1 Pet. i. 7. O look inward, and you will be quiet.
Fourthly, Look outward, and see who stands by and observes your carriage under trouble. Are there not many eyes upon you ? yea, many envious observers round about you. It was David's re- quest, Psal. v. 8. " Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because " of mine enemies ;" or, as the Hebrew word there might be ren- dered, because of mine observers or watchers. There is many an envious eye upon you. To the wicked there can scarcely be an higher gratification and pleasure, than to see your carriage under
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trouble so like their own ; for thereby they are confirmed in their prejudices against religion, and in their good opinion of them- selves. These may talk and profess more than we ; but when they are tried, and put to it, it appears plainly enough, their reli- gion enables them to do no more than we do ; they talk of heaven's glory, and their future expectances; but it is but talk, for it is apparent enough their hopes cannot balance a .small affliction, with all the happiness they talk of. Oh, how do you dishonour Christ before his enemies, when you make them think all your religion lies in talking of it ! Consider who looks on.