Spiritual desertions discovered and remedied. Being the substance of divers sermons preached for the…

3. Beware of charging him with partiality. There is an envy on this account, too apt to discover it self; such as was in Peter, when Christ had told him what trials he must encounter, is inquisitive what must befall the beloved Disciple, for which he received a rebuke, Joh. 21.21, 22. hence such musing▪ are entertained: Why are these taken into familiarity with him, and I must be treated at a distance? Why do they enjoy his smiles, and I suffer his frowns? &c. take heed of pining; Why should your eye be ⟨p. 121⟩evil, because his is good? must his love be cal•ed in question by your jealousy? or must he ask your counsel and leave how to carry it in his family?

3. Beware of charging him with partiality. There is an envy on this account, too apt to discover it self; such as was in Peter, when Christ had told him what trials he must encounter, is inquisitive what must befal the beloved Disciple, for which he received a rebuke, Joh. 21.21, 22. hence such musing▪ are entertained: Why are these taken into familiarity with him, and I must be treated at a distance? Why do they enjoy his smiles, and I suffer his frowns? &c. take heed of pining; Why should your eye be ⟨p. 121⟩evil, because his is good? must his love be cal•ed in question by your jealousie? or must he ask your counsel and leave how to carry it in his family?

4. Call neither his truth nor his wisdom in question on this account. Say not, how can he bring good to me out of this, or what advantage can accrue to me by it? Say not, where is now the veracity of his word which he hath made me to hope in? how is this the performance of his promise? this is pride: Remember, His thoughts are not as your thoughts, nor his ways as your ways, but as high above them as the heaven is above the earth. Resolve that he is the Potter, and you the Clay, and that you will lye as such in his hand.