ready to cry out with the Psalmist, Will the Lord cast us off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Psal. 77. No the Lord is in his holy Temple: the Lords Throne is in Heaven, His eyes behold, his eye-lids cry to the Children of men; the Lord trieth the Righteous, but the wicked and him that loveth violence, the Lord hateth Psal. 11. Let me tell you, God knows your sufferings, and what you suffer for; if it be for his sake, you are happy, they are means to wean you from this world, and as chains to draw you the nearer to heaven, calamity is a good companion for a patient soul, he will help you; cast up your accounts before God, how you have spent your time here on earth, and what close sins have lain hidden in your hearts, which may be the cause of your afflictions, which it may be prosperity would never have put you in mind of: have a care, be not puft up in prosperity, nor be not castdown
