Bufinefs. Understanding what the will of the Lord is. Το engage in any bufinefs of importance without knowing this, and taking counfel of God, may coft us dear. Woe to them that take counsel, but not of me, faith the Lord. But then let a man take heed, that when he goes to enquire of the Lord, he does not set up idols in his own heart, left God answer him according to his idols. We are to pray for the direction of God's Spirit, upon all great occafions: efpecially, we are humbly to depend on his direction, and cheerfully to expect it, which he will manifeft, either by fome plain event of his providence, or by suggesting fuch reasons as ought to determine the will to a wife choice. But to follow the inclinations of the will without reafon, only because we find ourselves ftrongly inclined to this or that, is a very dangerous way, and may engage us in very dangerous practices. Mafter. Servant. Death, in a very little time, may make the mafter and the fervant equal. Let us anticipate this equality, by treating our fervants with compaffion; having refpect to Chrift In the perfon of our fervant, to Christ, who took upon him the form of a fervant for our fakes. TUESDAY MEDITATIONS. TROUBLE, PERSECUTION, Call upon me in the time of trouble, fo will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me. GOD, who feeft all our weakneffes, and the troubles we labour under, have regard unto the prayers of thy fervant, who stands in need of thy comfort, thy direction, and thy help. Grant that I may fuffer like a Christian, and not grieve like an unbeliever; that I may receive troubles as a punishment due to my paft offences,—as an exercise of my faith, and patience, and humility, and as a trial of my obedience;and that I may improve all my afflictions to the good of my foul, and thy glory. Thou alone knoweft what is best for us: Let me never difpute thy wisdom or thy goodness. Direct my reafon, subdue my paffions, put a stop to my roving thoughts and fears, and let me have the comfort of thy promise, and of thy protection, both now and ever, for Jefus Chrift's fake. Amen. If ye endure chaftening, God dealeth with you as with fons; for what fon is he whom the father chafteneth not? But if ye are without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye baftards, and not fons. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have finned against bim. If I am defpifed or flighted, I ought to confider it as a favour, fince this is a mark of God's children; and therefore I ought to nk him for it, and not be angry with those whom he makes his instruments to fubdue and mortify my pride. Rejoice in as much as ye are made partakers of the Sufferings of Chrift; that when his glory shall be revealed, ys may be glad alfo with exceeding joy;-viz. Because your reward will be proportionable to your fufferings. Bleffed are ye when men shall revile you and perfecute you, and fhall fay all manner of evil against you falfely for my fake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in Heaven; for fo perfecuted they the prophets which were before you. The mystery of the Cross is to be learned under the Cross. Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the foul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both body and foul in hell. Are not two Sparrows fold for a farthing? and one of them shall not |