Invisibles, realities, demonstrated in the holy life and triumphant death of Mr. John Janeway,…

Daily observations, and every mans experience, gives sufficient testimony to it, that afflictions of what kind soever, by how much the seldomer they are, the more grievous they seem. We have of a long time sailed in the Rivers of Blessings which God hath plentifully poured forth among us; now if we come where the Waves of affliction do but a little more than ordinarily arise, we begin to have our souls almost carried down with fears and griefs; yea, the natural man, if not counter-poured by the Spirit of God, will be ready to entertain murmuring and repining thoughts against God himself. Whereas, if all our life had been a Pilgrimage full of sorrows and afflictions (as we deserved) and had but rarely been intermingled with comforts, we should have been more fitted to bear afflictions. Thus it is naturally: but we ought to counter-work against the stream of nature by a new principle wrought in us; and whatsoever Nature doth err in, Grace is to rectify: And they upon whom Grace is bestowed, ought to set Grace on work. For wherefore is Grace bestowed, unless that it should act in us: It hath pleased the Lord to make a breach in your Family. There where the knot is fast tied, when it is disunited, the change becomes greater, and the grief is the more enlarged. ⟨p. 31⟩So that herein you who are most moved, are most to be excused and comforted: The strength of a Mothers affections I believe none but Mothers know, and greatest affections, when they are disturbed, breed the greatest grief: But when afflictions come upon us, what will be our duty? Shall we then give our selves up to be carried away with the grieving passions? Shall we, because of one affliction, cause our souls to walk in sadness all our days, and drive away all the light of comfort from our eyes, by causing our souls to be obscured under the shades of melancholy? Shall we quarrel with our Maker, and call the wise Righteous Judge to our Bar? Doth he not punish us less than we deserve? Is there not Mercy and Truth in all his Dispensations? Shall we by continual sorrow add affliction to affliction, and so become our own Tormentors? Are we not rather under afflictions, to see if any way we may find a glimpse of Gods love shining in towards us, and so to raise up our souls nearer God? Is there not enough in God, and the Holy Scriptures, to bear up our spirits under any afflictions, let them be never so great?

Daily observations, and every mans experience, gives sufficient testimony to it, that afflictions of what kind soever, by how much the seldomer they are, the more grievous they seem. We have of a long time sailed in the Rivers of Blessings which God hath plentifully poured forth among us; now if we come where the Waves of affliction do but a little more than ordinarily arise, we begin to have our souls almost carried down with fears and griefs; yea, the natural man, if not counter-powred by the Spirit of God, will be ready to entertain murmuring and repining thoughts against God himself. Whereas, if all our life had been a Pilgrimage full of sorrows and afflictions (as we deserved) and had but rarely been intermingled with comforts, we should have been more fitted to bear afflictions. Thus it is naturally: but we ought to counter-work against the stream of nature by a new principle wrought in us; and whatsoever Nature doth err in, Grace is to rectifie: And they upon whom Grace is bestowed, ought to set Grace on work. For wherefore is Grace bestowed, unless that it should act in us: It hath pleased the Lord to make a breach in your Family. There where the knot is fast tyed, when it is disunited, the change becomes greater, and the grief is the more inlarged.