r been near
Bragwell during the short but flourishing reign of the Squeezes: for
he knew that prosperity made the ears deaf and the heart hard to
counsel; but as soon as he heard his friend was in trouble, he set
out to go to him. Bragwell burst into a violent fit of tears when he
saw him, and when he could speak, said, "This trial is more than I
can bear." Mr. Worthy kindly took him by the hand, and when he was a
little composed, said, "I will tell you a short story. There was in
ancient times a famous man who was a slave. His master, who was very
good to him, one day gave him a bitter melon, and made him eat it:
he ate it up without one word of complaint. 'How was it possible,'
said the master, 'for you to eat so very nauseous and disagreeable a
fruit?' The slave replied, 'My good master, I have received so many
favors from your bounty, that it is no wonder if I should once in my
life eat one bitter melon from your hands.' This generous answer so
struck the master, that the history says he gave him his liberty.
With such submissive sentiments, my friend, should man receive his
portion of sufferings from God, from whom he receives so many
blessings. You in particular have received 'much good at the hand of
God, shall you not receive evil also?'"

"O! Mr. Worthy!" said Bragwell, "this blow is too heavy for me, I
can not survive this shock: I do not desire it, I only wish to die."
"We are very apt to talk most of dying when we are least fit for
it," said Worthy. "This is not the language of that submission which
makes us prepare for death; but of that despair which makes us out
of humor with life. O! Mr. Bragwell! you are indeed disappointed of
the grand ends which made life so delightful to you; but till your
heart is humbled, till you are brought to a serious conviction of
sin, till you are brought to see what is the true end of life, you
can have no hope in death. You think you have no business on earth,
because those for whose sake you too eagerly heaped up riches are no
more. But is there not under the canopy of heaven some afflicted
being whom you may yet relieve, some modest merit which you may
bring forward, some helpless creature you may save by your advice,
some perishing Christian you may sustain by your wealth? When you
have no sins of your own to repent of, no mercies of God to be
thankful for, no miseries of others to relieve, then, and not till
then, I consent you should sink down in despair, and call on