nefs, to a Life of Virtue, is very likely to prevail upon God to be merciful to us; but then this is the very Thing we are contending for; becaufe fuch a Change cannot be effected without fincere Repentance, which is always attended by Prayer, and Supplication. For when a Man hath offended God, if he would make any Reparation for his Faults, he will befeech him with strong Cries and Tears. Those Misfortunes, therefore, which we impute to our own Folly, fhould rather be ascribed to the almighty Power of God, who hath decreed, that in the very Nature of Things, these shall be the natural Confequences of our Vices; or elfe inflicteth them upon us, as the Punishment of them. And it cannot but be highly pleafing to God, and agreeable to our dependent Condition, to acknowledge his Power upon these Occafions. As it is, doubtlefs, a very great Contempt of his Authority, to attribute our Afflictions altogether to inferior Causes; and upon that Prefumption, to depend entirely G 2 upon upon ourselves, or others, for our Deliver ance from them. Secondly, if we confider further, that God is a Being of infinite Power and Wifdom, able and willing to work our Deliverance, even from the greatest and most presfing Calamities; and that to whomsoever we feek befides, we feek in vain; this will be another prevailing Motive to incline us to offer up our Devotions to him. We are, indeed, allowed to make Ufe of all honest Means to eafe our Miferies, and to lighten our Afflictions; but unless the Almighty pleaseth to co-operate with us, and to bless our Endeavours, they will prove fruitless, and our Labour will be loft. Men may contrive with the utmoft Art and Cunning, and may plan out fuch Schemes as (to human Wifdom) may appear impoffible to mifcarry; but if God do not profper our Undertakings, and fucceed our Enterprizes, the best laid Defigns, and the most refined Policy, will be brought to Nought. This is, indeed, no more than what we may reasonably reasonably expect as the Punishment of our Prefumption. When Men fhut God out from their Designs, he is often pleased to blast them, to convince the Contrivers of Folly and Madness. He leadeth Counsellors away Spoiled. He cafteth out the Counfels of Princes, and maketh the Devices of the People to be of none Effect. Human Strength and Wisdom cannot prevail against God; but whatever he pleaseth, that he doth ; and none. can fay to him, what doft thou? This fhould, therefore, prove a powerful Motive to seek unto God, as our chief Support, and to rely upon him, as our only Comfort. And this Manner of proceeding is not only agreeable to Reafon, but also to the general Practice of Mankind. When we have any grand Defign in Hand, we are defirous to engage in our Intereft those that are most powerful, and whom, we imagine, are most able to affift us. And certainly we cannot apply ourselves to one more powerful, more able, or more willing to relieve us than our Almighty Creator. Shall not we then act a most foolish and wicked G. 3 wicked Part, when we depend upon human Means alone, and feek not unto the Lord our God? The Children of Men are but Vanity; the Children of Men are deceitful upon the Weights; they are altogether lighter than Vanity itself. Q! put not your Truft in Princes, nor in any Child of Man; for there is no Help in them. But trust in the Lord with all thine Heart, and lean not unto thine own Understanding; in all thy Ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy Paths. He fhall deliver thee in fix Troubles, yea, in feven thou shall not be afraid. Put your Truft in him, therefore, all ye People; pour out your Hearts before him, for God is our Hope. When we have fecured him to our Side, and bespoke his Favour in our Behalf, Nothing will be able to hurt us. We may reft fafe under his Protection; and under his Wings may be our Refuge, until our Troubles are blown over, and the Storm appeased. Thirdly, The Evils that we fuffer, may be inflicted upon us as a Punishment of our Sins. If, therefore, we defire to have them removed removed, it is but reasonable, that we should offer up our Petitions to God for Pardon and Forgiveness of thofe Sins that brought them upon us. Sin, we are very well affured, is highly difpleafing to God. It often provoketh him to inflict heavy Judgments upon us in this World; and eternal Punishment is denounced against it, to deter us from it. If, therefore, after we have tranfgreffed his Commandments, he should of his infinite Wisdom, think fit to afflict us, we should proftrate ourselves before him, and humbly fue for Pardon. We hould acknowledge our Faults, and with umble and contrite Hearts, bow down before him who defireth not the Death of a Sinner, but rather that he should turn from his Wickedness and live. If we fuffer in this Life, it is owing to the Mercy and Goodnefs of God, who by these fatherly Corrections, is willing to bring us to Repentance, and to fave us from the Wrath to come. God chaftifeth us for our Profit, out of Pity and Compaffion. His Design is to purge our Confciences from dead Works, |