A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

And these are the rules which are to be observed before afflictions befall us. In our afflictions, the main duty to be performed, is, that we bear them with patience, which is that passive obedience whereby we submit our selves unto Gods will, with all meekness, humility, and contentation in all estates, bearing his fatherly chastisements quietly, constantly, and willingly, till he deliver us, and give unto us lawful means to be freed from our afflictions. So that if we would rightly demean our selves in the time of our troubles, we must bear them with patience, unto which is required, first, obedience, humility, and contentation, whereby we meekly submit our selves unto Gods good pleasure to be chastised of him, and to bear that cross which he imposeth, saying with Eli, It is the ¹Lord, let him do what seemeth good unto him; and with David, Here I am, ²let him do unto me, as it seemeth good in his eyes; and with our Saviour Christ; Not as I will, but as thou wilt. Secondly, that we bear our cross ³quietly, with David, not opening our mouths to murmur and mutter, ⁴