Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

1. That all thy wrongs and unworthy usages, all thy injuries and indignities, crosses and uncomfortable accidents, that shall ever any way befall thee, are fore-appointed, ordered, and disposed by Gods wise and merciful providence, and that to thy spiritual and everlasting good. This very one thought, that God is ever the principal Agent, kept fresh and on foot in thy mind, will be of sovereign power to cool and beat back any intemperate heat, which might either rise in thine heart, or rage in thy tongue against his instruments; and cause thee many times when thou art cha•ing ripe, and ready to rave, to lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and say unto God sweetly with David, Psal. 39. 9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. And not like a child, to beat the place that hurt it; but rather to walk more heedfully: or a foolish Cur, to snarl and snatch at the stone, never looking after the thrower: or a mad man, to bite the sword that sticks in his flesh; but rather to pull it out softly, and get to the Surgeon. There was matter and malice enough in the mouth of Shimei, to have made Davids royal heart naturally to rise with implacable indignation against that dead dog: unkindness and cruelty enough in the hearts of Josephs brethren, to have made him for ever unreconcilable: wrong and villainy enough in the carriage of the Chaldeans, to have set Job on fire with rage and revenge against them: But these holy men by practise of the present point, and from the strength of this consideration which I now commend, for the restraint of choler, procured a great deal of sweet peace and patience to their own hearts, pleasednesse and acceptation with God, admiration and example to posterity: For they glanced by the means and the men, and fastened their eyes upon their Maker, and the first Mover. Joseph looked beyond his Brethren's barbarous ⟨p. 101⟩dealing with him, and said, The Lord sent me before you: Job beyond the Chaldeans lawless outrages, and said, The Lord hath taken away: David beyond Shimei dogged rancour, and said, The Lord hath bidden him: Jesus Christ Himself, blessed for ever, looked beyond the Pharisees, Priests, Jews, Judas and the Soldiers, to his Fathers Cup, Joh. 18. 11. This Cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink? when he commanded Peter to sheathe his sword.