The Fountain of Life Opened

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 who lie much lower than you. Can you see none on earth in a more miserable state than your selves? Are you at the very bottom, and not a man below you? Sure there be thousands in a sadder case than you on earth. What is your affliction? Have you lost a relation? Others have lost all. Have you lost an Estate, and are become poor? Well, but there be some you read of, Job 30.4, 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 Valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the Rocks. Among the bushes they brayed, 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 desolate places? Are you persecuted and afflicted for Christs sake? What think you of their sufferings, Heb. 11.36, 37. Who had trial of cruel mockings, yea, moreover 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, vers. 38.

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 who lie much lower than you. Can you see none on earth in a more miserable state than your selves? Are you at the very bottom, and not a man below you? Sure there be thousands in a sadder case than you on earth. What is your affliction? Have you lost a relation? Others have lost all. Have you lost an Estate, and are become poor? Well, but there be some you read of, Iob 30.4, 5, 6, 7. Who cut up Mallows by the bushes, and Iuniper roots for their meat. They are driven forth from among men, they cryed 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 brayed, under the Nettles they were gather'd together. What difference as to manner of Life, do you find between the persons here described, and the wild beasts, that herd together in desolate places? Are you persecuted and afflicted for Christs sake? What think you of their sufferings,