fictions of any Kind; inflead of murmur ing and repining at his Difpofals, let us take care to bear them with Chriftian Acquiefcence and Chearfulness, together with a grateful Senfe of the Benefits he intends thereby. For fuch a Deportment as this, we have great Reafon; inafinuch as God's Rod and God's Staff go together, and whilst one of his Hands is taken up with his Rod in fmiting us, the other Hand is held forth with his Staff ip Arengthen and fupport us.

Secondly and Tafly, Since 'tis to fuch Christians who love God, that Afflictions and Sufferings will work together for Good; from hence we may take notice, how highly it concerns us to be of that Number, if we mean to enjoy this glorious Privilege,

Such Chriftians as love God, will work together with Afflictions, and diligently endeavour to make a right Ule of them: Such Chriftians may justly expect God's Affiftance to crown their Endeavours with Success upon Earth; and such only can have well-grounded Hopes of a grea ter Reward in Heaven.

Let it therefore be our principal Bufinefs to get our Souls poffeffed with a true Love of God. With close Attenfion

confider we the infinite Excellencies and Perfections of his Nature With Hearts full of Gratitude contemplate we, the exc ceeding Riches of bis Mercy and loving Kindness to usward, expreffed in creating, preferving, and Redeeming us. With the greateft Serioufnets reflect we upon the Authority of his Laws, and our many and great Obligations to Obedience: That fo by all thefe Confiderations we may be excited, to cherish the highest Efteem and Value for him; to Choose and Defire him before all Things elfe: and Reverence and Obey him, without Exception of Reserve.

This will be to love him with all our Mind, with all our Heart, with all our Soul, and with all our Strength. And if we love him in this Manner, we shall be fure to answer the Designs of his Fatherly Chastisements, by endeavouring to grow wiler and better through the Afflictions we fuffer; and then we need not fear having his Bleffing, to make them work for our present, and future Good and Happiness.

To conclude; if we are fincere Lovers of God, we may keep our Spirits from finking under any Calamities, by confidering the Benefits that will redound to

us

us from them: Thefe will be Waters of Comfort, to chear and refreth our Souls, when foever we are deprived of Pleasure of the feeding in green Paflures.

SERMON XV.

Pfalm xxxi. II.

I was a Reproach among all mine Ene

mies, but especially among

mine Neigh bours, and a Fear to mine Acquain tance, they that did fee me without, fled from me.

"TH

HERE is hardly any thing can entertain us with a more delightful View of the Changes which wait upon human Affairs, than the furprising Turne and unexpected Alterations, that we find in the Life of Holy David. From the humble, yet happy Employment, of tending his Father's Sheep, and looking after the Ewes great with Young, God exalted him to be the chiefeft Inftrument in deftroying the Giant of Gath, and in vanZ3 quish

quifhing the Armies of the uncircumcifed Philiftians Hereupon he was followed with the loud Applaufes and Acclamations of the People; his Favour and Friendship were courted by the Noble; and to crown his Glory, his Sovereign gave him one of his Daughters to Wife.

But behold the ftrange Lubricity of his Fortune; no fooner had he arrived to this honourable Station, but he fell into Difgrace: No fooner had be made himself the Object of his Fellow-fubjects Love, but the King made him the Object of his Hatred.

When David returned from the Slaughter of Goliab, the Women came out of the Cities of Ifrael, finging and dancing. to meet King Saul, with Tabrets, with Joy, and with Inftruments of Mufick: And the Women anfwered one another as they play'd, faying, Saul bath flain bis Thoufands, and David his ten Thoufands; and Saul was wroth, and the Saying difpleas'd him, and be hated David from that Day forward.

After this, he fent him upon dangerous Enterprises, in order to take away his Life; and when he found that his Point could not be gained by under-hand Pratices, he openly declared himself to be

his Enemy fo that he was conftrained to flee from his Prefence, to hide himself in Dens and Caves of the Earth, left he hould fall into Saul's Hands, who hunted and purfued him like a Partridge upon the Mountains, thirsting after his Blood, and longing for his Ruin.png

So quickly did the Fall of David fuc ceed his Advancement; fo fuddenly was he thrown from one of the highest States of Happiness, to one of the lowest Degrees of Mifery. Nevertheless, the fame Providence which took him from the Sheepfold hover'd over him ftill; was his Shield, Buckler, and Defence, in all the Dangers that furrounded him; and at length placed him upon the Throne of his Enemy, and made him King over Ifrael in his ftead.

And now the Scene was again changed, and Men acted after another Manner: These who were his Enemies, on a fudden became his Friends, or at least pretended to be fo. Others were proud of owning their former Acquaintance, and the generality of all Sorts endeavoured to get into his good Graces.

Before, when he was pursued and perfecuted by Saul, he was made the Scorn of Men, and the Outcaft of the People: Few