3. When they come, bear them with more patience. A resolution which we thought strong out of a trial, is often found weak in a trial ; for we have other apprehensions of things when we know them by experience, of what we have when we know them only by guess and imagination. Therefore, notwithstanding expectation and preparation, there must be a care of patience in troubles and afflictions, that we bear them with an equal and Christian mind ; not suffering as per- force, by compulsion and constraint, but willingly : it is not enough to bear the cross, but according to Christ's law wc must take it up. It is said of the three children, Dan. iii. 28, that they yielded their bodies willingly, cheerfully suffered themselves to be cast into the furnace, rather than worship any but the true God. Many suffer, but it is unwillingly, and with repining and impatience, under the hand of God, like refractory oxen that draw back, and are loath to submit their necks to the yoke. Patience perforce, is no true patience, little better than the Buffering of the devils and damned in hell, who suffer misery and torment against their wills. Rebellion, murmuring, and want of subjection is the very curse of crosses : the sacrifice that went strug-
Veil 153.] sermons upon psalm cxix. 129
gling to the altar among the heathen was counted unlucky. Two things feed this impatience : —
[1.] Men think none suffer as they do : ' Is any sorrow like unto my sorrow ? ' Lam. i. 21. Every one hath the greatest sense of his own burden, therefore they think none hath so heavy and grievous an one as they have. It were well if they did this in feeling of sin. Paul felt his burden greatest in that respect : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' But alas ! in afflictions, all God's children have their trials ; many fare more grievous. When you lament the feared loss of an only child, what think you of the Virgin Mary ? Luke ii. 35, 'A sword shall pierce through thy soul.' Generally, 1 Peter v. 9, ' The same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.' Every Christian hath his measure of hardship and suffering ; you are not singular and alone ; your lot is no harder than the rest of the saints of God through the world ; others are poor, and carry it well, and are cheerful ; such an one under a painful disease, very patient in an acute fever, racked with stone, &c. If they, why not thou ?
[2.] They could bear any other cross but this that is now upon them. Christ biddeth us to take up the cross indefinitely, whatever God is pleased to lay upon us ; we must not be our own carvers, but stand to God's allowance. The wise physician knoweth in what vein to strike. God knoweth us best, and what is fit for us. Many in their troubles wish God would afflict them in any other kind, lay any trouble upon them but that which is laid, and think they could bear it better. The poor man wisheth any other cross but poverty ; the sick man he could bear poverty better than pain or sickness ; he that hath a long and lingering sickness wisheth for a sharp fit, so it might be short ; e contra, another that hath a sharp and violent sickness had rather have a lingering distemper. Thus apt are we to dislike our cross which God layeth on us for the present. This is disobedience and folly too ; for if God should leave us to ourselves to choose our own crosses, we should choose that affliction which is hurtful and danger- ous for us.
Doct. 2. That in our afflictions we should run to God by prayer. So doth David here, so should we.
1. We may do so.
2. AVe must do so.
1. We may do so ; we have leave to come to God. Affliction is a fruit of sin, a part of the curse, introduced into the world upon the breach of the old covenant ; yet then the throne of grace standeth open for us : when God seemeth most angry, we have liberty to come to him. In afflictions we are apt to think God an enemy, and that he beginneth to put the old covenant in suit against us ; but our trouble should not be our discouragement, but our excitement ; the throne of grace was for such an hour ; Heb. iv. 16, ' Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need ;' and it is God's allowance : James v. 13, ' Is any among you afflicted ? let him pray : is any merry ? let him sing psalms.'
2. We must come ; it is a duty God hath required at our hands :
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130 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SER. CLXXI.
Ps. 1. 15, 'Call upon me in the day of trouble;' and Job xxii. 27, ' Thou shalt make thy prayer, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.' God will have us come and speak to him in our most serious frame, and act faith by putting promises in suit, and take new vows and resolutions to part with sin, when we feel the bitter effects of it. He knoweth it preventeth distracting fears and cares, when we can commend our condition to his pity and powerful provi- dence : Phil. iv. 7, in every thing we are to make our requests known to God ; and he knoweth this maketh us sensible of his provi- dence and dominion over us in all conditions. Prayer is an acknow- ledgment of his sovereignty over all causes and events ; the affliction could not come without his appointment, nor go away without his leave : it is a kind of breaking prison, to hope to get through without supplication to God : Job xxxiv. 28, 29, ' So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted : when he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble ? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him ? whether it be against a nation, or against a person only.'