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MONDAY MEDITATIONS.

RESIGNATION.

Luke xxii. 42.

Nevertheless, not my

will, but thine be done.

O

God, who takest delight in helping the afflicted, help a foul too often diftreffed with an inward rebellion against thy just appointments.

Who am I, that I fhould make exceptions against the Will of God, infinitely great, wife, and good?

I know not the things that are for my own good.

My most earnest defires, if granted, may prove my ruin,

The things I complain of and fear, may be the effects of the greatest

mercy.

The disappointments I meet with may be abfolutely neceffary for my eternal welfare.

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I do therefore protest against the fin and madness of defiring to have my will done, and not the will of God. Grant, gracious Father, that I never difpute the reasonableness of thy will, but ever clofe with it, as the best that can happen.

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Prepare me always for what thy providence shall bring forth.

Let me never murmur, be dejected, or impatient, under any of the troubles of this life; but ever find rest and comfort in this, THIS IS THE WILL OF MY FATHER, AND OF MY GOD: grant this for Jefus Chrift's fake. Amen.

To the glory of God, and juftification of his infinite goodness, I do here acknowledge, that in all the difpenfations of providence which have befallen me, to this day, however uneafy to flesh and blood, I have notwithftanding experienced the kindness of a father for his child; and am convinced, that it would have been much worfe for me, had I had my own choices.

O God

O God grant that for the time to come I may yield a cheerful obedience to all thy appointments. Amen..

Corrupt nature cannot comprehendthat afflictions are the effects of the divine love. It must be thy grace, O Lover of Souls, which muft work in me this conviction, which I beseech Thee to vouchfafe me.

Never fet a greater value world than it deferves.

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If a man is not eager or pofitive in: his defires, he will more readily embrace the appointments of Providence.,

If we place our hopes, or our dependance, upon the power, the wisdom, the counfel, or the intereft, we have in man, and not in God only, we shall furely be disappointed.

Job xiii. 15. Though he flay me, yet will I trust in him.

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my crucified King and Saviour, my fubmiffion to whatever afflictions fhall befall me, for thy fake,,

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or by thy appointment, be to me a pledge, and an affurance, of my fide lity to Thee, and conformity to thy fufferings.

It is a favour to be punished and to fuffer in this life, when a man makes a good use of his fufferings. But to fuffer by constraint, is to fuffer without comfort and without benefit.

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Our union and conformity with the will of God, ought to be inftead of all confolation.

Grant, O God, that I may always accept of the punishment of my fins: with refignation to thy good pleasure.

Remember me, O Lord, in the day of trouble; keep me from all excefs of fear, concern, and fadness.

Grant me an humble and refigned heart, that with perfect content I may ever acquiefce in all the methods of thy grace, that I may never frustrate the defigns of thy mercy, by unreafonable fears, by floth, or felf-love. Amen.

Think

Think often of GoD, and of his attributes, his mercy, compaffion, fidelity, fatherly care, goodness, protection. Dwell on thefe thoughts till they produce fuch a well-grounded confidence as will fupport us under all difficulties, and affure us, that He cannot poffibly forfake thofe that depend on Him.

When God deprives us of any thing that is most dear to us,-health, ease, conveniences of life, friends, wife, children, &c.—we fhould immediately fay, This is God's will; I am by Him commanded to part with fo much; let me not therefore murmur or be dejected, for then it would appear that I did love that thing more than God's will.

When God thus vifits us, let us immediately look inwards; and, left, our fins fhould be the occafion, let us take care that we seriously repent, and endeavour to make our peace with God, and then He will either deliver or fupport us, and will convince us,

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