school or academy, wherein the best scholars are prepared
to the commencements of the Deity. And though it be most troublesome and
grievous for the time, yet know this, it comes by God's permission and
providence; He is a spectator of thy groans and tears, still present with
thee, the very hairs of thy head are numbered, not one of them can fall to
the ground without the express will of God: he will not suffer thee to be
tempted above measure, he corrects us all, [6809]_numero, pondere, et
mensura_, the Lord will not quench the smoking flax, or break the bruised
reed, _Tentat_ (saith Austin) _non ut obruat, sed ut coronet_ he suffers
thee to be tempted for thy good. And as a mother doth handle her child sick
and weak, not reject it, but with all tenderness observe and keep it, so
doth God by us, not forsake us in our miseries, or relinquish us for our
imperfections, but with all pity and compassion support and receive us;
whom he loves, he loves to the end. Rom. viii. "Whom He hath elected, those
He hath called, justified, sanctified, and glorified." Think not then thou
hast lost the Spirit, that thou art forsaken of God, be not overcome with
heaviness of heart, but as David said, "I will not fear though I walk in
the shadows of death." We must all go, _non a deliciis ad delicias_,
[6810]but from the cross to the crown, by hell to heaven, as the old Romans
put Virtue's temple in the way to that of Honour; we must endure sorrow and
misery in this life. 'Tis no new thing this, God's best servants and
dearest children have been so visited and tried. Christ in the garden cried
out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" His son by nature, as
thou art by adoption and grace. Job, in his anguish, said, "The arrows of
the Almighty God were in him," Job vi. 4. "His terrors fought against him,
the venom drank up his spirit," cap. xiii. 26. He saith, "God was his
enemy, writ bitter things against him" (xvi. 9.) "hated him." His heavy
wrath had so seized on his soul. David complains, "his eyes were eaten up,
sunk into his head," Ps. vi. 7, "his moisture became as the drought in
summer, his flesh was consumed, his bones vexed:" yet neither Job nor David
did finally despair. Job would not leave his hold, but still trust in Him,
acknowledging Him to be his good God. "The Lord gives, the Lord takes,
blessed be the name of the Lord," Job. i. 21. "Behold I am vile, I abhor
myself, repent in dust and ashes," Job xxxix. 37. David humble