Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

CASE last, The afflictions I meet with are strange and unusual. I doubt if ever a child of God was trysted with such dispensations of providence as I am Ans. Much of what was said on the preceding case, may be helped in this. Holy Job was assaulted with this temptation, Job v. 1. To which •f the saints wilt thou turn• But he rejected it, and held fast his integrity. The Apostle supposeth Christians may be tempted to think strange concerning the fiery trial, 1 Pet. iv. 12 But they have need of larger experience than Solomon's who will venture to say, See this is new, Eccles. i. 10. And what though, in respect of the outward dispensations of providence it happen to you according to the work of the wicked? You may be just notwithstanding; according to Solomon's observe, Eccles. viii. 14. Sometimes we travel in ways, where we cannot perceive the prints of the foot of man or beast; yet we cannot from thence conclude, that there was never any there before us: so, albeit thou canst not perceive the footsteps of the flock in the way of thine affliction; thou must not therefore conclude, thou art the first that ever travelled that road. But, what, if it were so, that thou wert indeed the first? Some one saint or other behoved to be the first, in drinking of each bitter cup the rest have drunk of. What warrant have you or I, to limit the holy One of Israel to a trodden path, in his dispensations towards us? Thy way is in th• sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known, Psal. lxxvii. 19. If the Lord should carry you to heaven by some retired road, and let you in at a back-door, (so to speak) you would have no ground to complain. Learn to allow sovereignty a latitude; be at your duty; and let no affliction ca•t a veil over any evidences you otherwise have for your being in the state of grace: for no man knoweth either their love or ha•red by all that is before them,