health, comfort, and our pleasant things, we wax fat and kick, nestle
in our comfort, abuse thy gifts, and lose sight of the giver. Alas,
Lord, thus it must ever be with us, when we keep not near to thee; we
cannot walk one step alone without stumbling. Thou knowest these
naturally wicked hearts, that they are deceitful above all things;
they betray us before we are aware. Blessed, ever blessed be our God
for his well-ordered covenant. Blessed for the discipline of it. O
Lord, we are again in the wilderness, and under thy chastising rod:
for weeks past, we have 'eaten no pleasant bread;' thy rod is still
suspended over our pleasant, our dear child; the streams of life ebb,
he sickens, he dies, if thou interfere not. But the issues of death
are in thy hand, and our eyes are towards thee. In vain are all means,
all medicines, if thou impart not the healing virtue. Thy weeping
servants seek the healing virtue from thy waters, thy seas, thy pure
air. All nature is in thy hand and ministers thy pleasure; to some
conveying health, to some disease. An herb to be boiled in simple
milk, as the figs for Hezekiah's boils, has been proposed, O let this
prove the appointed means, or direct and point out that which thou
wilt bless, and let our hearts and tongues give the glory to thee.

"We deserve this bereavement; but, Lord, what do we not deserve?
Even according to the constitution of the covenant of grace, and
consistent with thy pardoning, saving mercy, and all thy
long-suffering, wert thou to take vengeance on our inventions, by
exercising all thy threatened chastisements, should we ever be out of
the furnace? But even in this view, thou never hast dealt with us as
our iniquities deserved. 'He will not always chide, neither will he
keep his anger for ever.' Thou hast, in thousands of instances, 'cast
our sins behind thy back, into the midst of the sea; blotted them out,
to remember them no more for ever. Thy ways are not as our ways, nor
thy thoughts as our thoughts,' We may plead, 'Deal not with us as we
sin; but according to the multitude of thy mercies blot out our
transgressions. Pardon our iniquity, for it is great.' Affliction is
appointed, but it is 'in measure, when it shooteth forth.' O debate
with it, and according to thy promise, 'stay thy rough wind in the day
of thine east wind.' Lord, say it is enough, give the blessing, and by
this measure shall iniquity be purged, and the fruit be to take away
sin. All mean