Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London

Fifthly, if you would so order and manage all your sufferings as that they may turn to a good account, then take heed that there be no contradiction found in the way of your suffering. A man may be very stiff, and stand out here, and yet he may yield there. Saith the Apostle, If I build again what I have destroyed, I make my self a transgressor. And, Blessed is the man that condemns not himself in the thing that he allows. 'Tis possible I may build that with one hand, that I may pull down with another. Possibly a man may be very stiff, and stand out at such a thing, and yet he may yield there. There may be contradictions found in the way of our suffering. And let me tell you this, if it be thus, your sufferings will come to little. Take heed that there be not contradictions therefore found in the way of your sufferings.

Fifthly, if you would so order and manage all your sufferings as that they may turn to a good account, then take heed that there be no contradiction found in the way of your suffering. A man may be very stiff, and stand out here, and yet he may yeeld there. Saith the Apostle, If I build again what I have destroyed, I make my self a transgressor. And, Blessed is the man that condemns not himself in the thing that he allows. 'Tis possible I may build that with one hand, that I may pull down with another. Possibly a man may be very stiff, and stand out at such a thing, and yet he may yeeld there. There may be contradictions found in the way of our suffering. And let me tell you this, if it be thus, your sufferings will come to little. Take heed that there be not contradictions therefore found in the way of your sufferings.

Sixthly, if you would manage your sufferings so as they may turn to a good account, then let your eye be more upon the Public good, then upon your own private loss; more upon Gods design, then your own detriment; more upon Gods dishonour, then your own grievance, or your own pressure. 'Tis good for a man to be spiritual and savoury in his suffering: our Saviour saith, Such worshippers the Father seeks, &c. and truly I say, ⟨p. 55⟩Such sufferers doth the Father seek, that suffer in spirit and truth, whose spirits are savoury in their sufferings. And when is that? when that your eye is more upon the public good, then your own private loss; more upon Gods design, then your own detriment; more upon Gods dishonour, then your own grievance, and your own pressure.