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didst it," Psal. xxxix. 9.: and yet, with the same breath, he adds, “Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand," ver. 10. Was a child under the direction of a parent to intimate no desire of his forbearance, should we not rather account him stubborn than submissive? In like manner, not to ask of God release from troubles, is as offensive as to mourn at them. It is the token of a proud heart and a relentless spirit.
God expects other things at our hands; even of the wicked he says, “In their affliction they will seek me early;” much more shall his own people, who have known his name, and put their trust in him; who have known the advantage of prayer, and been so often set at liberty by it from all their fears. If these are silent, they cannot be sensible nor submissive. Only in all their prayers, when they are most earnest and vehement, “If it be consistent with the will of God," and there will be no limiting him as to time or way.
These things are neither of them inconsistent with the soul's saying, under the most awful rebukes, “All is well.”
Now, what is included in this "well” in my text, or what is this submission to the will of God? It takes in, as I apprehend, these three things:
