creases the burthen, in proportion as it diminishes the strength of the bearer.

It being therefore a matter of great moment, to have our minds properly fortified against any ill impreffions from the many accidents and difafters, to which we are ever liable in this uncertain ftate; I fhall, in treating of the words before us,

First, explain briefly what is meant by receiving Evil at the hand of God-in order,

Secondly, to fhew more at large the reasonableness and utility of fo doing.

1. Forafmuch then as the Almighty Creator hath an uncontroulable power over the work of his own hands, whatever fufferings He fhall be pleased to bring upon us, we are utterly unable to contend

contend with Him that made us, or to

refift his will. But because he hath

created us rational and free agents, given us rules for our conduct, examples for our imitation, and moreover obliged us by laws enforced with the most prevailing fanctions; by means of which we are capable of improving the evil we cannot fhun, and of working out a virtue from an unavoidable neceffity: Therefore by receiving evil we are not to understand the mere undergoing it, which neither our Reason nor our Religion can prevent; but the undergoing it in such a manner through their directing influence, that it may be imputed unto us for Righteousness.

Be it further obferved the very fame expreffion here applied both to good and evil, plainly seems to intimate our bearing the latter in fome refpect answerable to our acceptance of the former; that

as

as we ought to receive our good things at the hand of God with a becoming thankfulness, so ought we to receive our evil things at the fame hand with a pious refignation and humble hope. We may indeed have full as much reafon even to thank God for our adversity, if we make a right use of it, as for our profperity; and to rejoice that we were counted worthy to fuffer. However, fince "no chaftening for the present is joyous, but, on the contrary, grievous;", it cannot certainly be required of any to rejoice under it's immediate preffure : Enough it is "if it yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness to as many as are properly exercised thereby." Holy David was delighted with reflecting on his past troubles, inafmuch as he had been trained up by them to a better sense of things: "It is good for me (fays he) that I have "been afflicted, that I might learn thy "ftatutes" and again," Before I was

troubled

❝ troubled I went wrong, but now have "I kept thy word." Yet he no where tells us that his fufferings, as fuch, and at the very inftant he endured them, were pleasant or agreeable to him; but that in his diftrefs he cried unto the Lord, and complained unto his God. We have it recorded too of Job himself, that he would not refrain his mouth, but speak in the anguish of his spirit, and complain in the bitterness of his foul. And no doubt there are at all times many good and pious perfons, who labour under the wretched circumstances of want and forrow, of infirmity and pain, with hopes full of immortality.

In a word then to receive Evil at the hand of God is to acquiefce under it, with faithful affurance that it does not happen to us without the appointment or permiffion of Him who both knows and difpofes all things with

calm

calm refignation to his fovereign will; with a religious belief that it was sent us for our advantage, and with an humble confidence that it will end therein.

That fuch a reception of evil is a very reasonable and beneficial duty, I proceed to fhew in the next place.

2. And this I apprehend will sufficiently appear, if we attend to the truth of the two following propofitions.

1. The first of which is, that a mixture of good and evil things is every one's portion in this life.

2. The fecond, that the evil things we fuffer, as well as the good ones we enjoy, proceed alike from the hand of God.

1. To evince the former of these propofitions I need only appeal to the gene

ral