in in one day, and saw himself so
without hope of issue, and which imbittered it farther, without
succession to the government, yet he fell not till the news that the
ark of God was taken. I pray God that we may never have the same
parallel perfected in our publick concernments. Then we shall need
all the strength of grace and nature to support us. But on a private
loss, and sweetened with so many circumstances as yours, to be
impatient, to be uncomfortable would be to dispute with God. Though
an only son be inestimable, yet it is like Jonah's sin, to be angry
at God for the withering of his shadow. Zipporah, though the delay
had almost cost her husband his life, yet, when he did but circumcise
her son, in a womanish peevishness reproached Moses as a bloody
husband. But if God take the son himself, but spare the father, shall
we say that He is a bloody God? He that gave His own son, may He not
take ours? It is pride that makes a rebel; and nothing but the
over-weening of ourselves and our own things that raises us against
Divine Providence. Whereas Abraham's obedience was better than
sacrifice. And if God please to accept both, it is indeed a farther
tryal, but a greater honour. I could say over upon this beaten
occasion most of those lessons of morality and religion which have
been so often repeated, and are as soon forgotten. We abound with
precept, but we want examples. You, sir, that have all these things
in your memory, and the clearness of whose judgment is not to be
obscured by any greater interposition, should be exemplary to others
in your own practice. 'Tis true, it is an hard task to learn and
teach at the same time. And, where yourselves are the experiment, it
is as if a man should dissect his own body, and read the anatomy
lecture. But I will not heighten the difficulty while I advise the
attempt. Only, as in difficult things, you would do well to make use
of all that may strengthen and assist you; the word of God; the
society of good men; and the books of the ancients; there is one way
more, which is by diversion, business, and activity; which are also
necessary to be used in their season. But I myself, who live to so
little purpose, can have little authority or ability to advise you in
it, who are a person that are and may be much more so, generally
useful. All that I have been able to do since, hath bee