Divine efficacy without humane power. Opened in a sermon preached at St. Margarets Church…

2. We must not murmur against the Lord, nor complain of austerity in him, as if he called us to harder conditions then we can bear; this was Jobs error, when he complained that God dealt with him, as if he had been made of stones or brass, Job 6. 12. We are too apt to esteem our trials singular, our difficulties unparalleled, and so to chide with our condition, and therein with God, when many times it is not the difficulty of the service, but the impatience of the heart which so makes it. We pervert our ways, and then we fret against God, Prov. 19. 3. A meek and humble spirit will make things easy, which we think intolerable. Take David in a passion, when Nabal refused to send him and his men provision, and compare him with David humbled under the hand of God, when Absalom rebelled, and Shimei cursed him, and then judge how easy an hard duty is to a prepared heart, and how hard an easy thing is to a froward heart.

2. We must not murmure against the Lord, nor complaine of austerity in him, as if he called us to harder conditions then we can bear; this was Jobs error, when he complained that God dealt with him, as if he had been made of stones or brass, Job 6. 12. We are too apt to esteem our trials singular, our difficulties unparallel'd, and so to chide with our condition, and therein with God, when many times it is not the difficulty of the service, but the impa•ience of the heart which so makes it. We pervert our wayes, and then we fret against God, Prov. 19. 3. A meek and humble spirit will make things easie, which we think intolerable. Take David in a passion, when Nabal refused to send him and his men provision, and compare him with David humbled under the hand of God, when Absolom rebelled, and Shimei cursed him, and then judge how easie an hard duty is to a prepared heart, and how hard an easie thing is to a froward heart.