larged. I shall take leave therefore to extend this Preface a little farther; that if it be possible, I may not let you want any thing which you may chance to desire.

And for direction of your Prayers to God in these cases. Be sure first to observe the cause of all your trouble, the Fountain which casts forth the Mire and Dirt into your Souls. When we know

the cause of a malady, it is half cured. And seeing this cause you will find to be within yourselves, therefore Secondly, Pray not so much against trouble, as the cause of the trouble. Pray for a contented mind, a low esteem of the world, a new opinion of things, an humble frame of heart, and such like Graces. If we merely pray, not to be troubled, and rest in general expressions, we shall find little ease to our hearts. Thirdly, Pray not so much for removal of the thing that troubles you, as for strength to bear it, and divine power to support you under it, and heavenly wisdom to make an advantage of it. Fourthly, If you do pray for the removal of any outward burthen, and the prevention of any loss, yet let it be with an indifferent mind, lest you be more troubled when you find that God doth not hear those prayers. Fifthly, when you are troubled for one fault, be troubled for

comforts of two Friends meeting together, be able to support the weight of many troubles.

But if one will resolve to be troubled, I see there is no end of it; for a man may be disquieted in his thoughts about the choice of such a Friend.

Let such consider this, that perhaps God hath given them one already, and the person that lies in their arms may give the best advice unto them. Or their Spiritual Guide may be the most excellent Friend. Or howsoever they may know | who will make one, by their love to Piety, by the simplicity of their Manners, the innocency, and modesty of their converse, their wise discourse, their freedom from pride and captiousness and such like. things. This likewise I may add, that though there be an inequality between that person and you, which is a necessary thing to Friendship, yet if other things be not wanting, love and friendship will make you equal.

But how if this Friend should die, will some say, how much then shall I be troubled? And what remedy shall I use to give me comfort when I have lost him that should comfort me? I told you there was no end of Questions. But yet the resolution of this Question will satisfy all; for he that can bear this trouble, will be

able to support himself under all other. And therefore since I resolved to let those meditations go further than yourselves, I have composed a little Tract to wait upon them, which administers comfort against the loss of Friends. It hath indeed, contrary to my first design, outgrown that in bigness which was born above two years before it: But yet the reason may be because there is much of the other in it. For as it is in the Calculations of our Almanacks, which are referred exactly to some certain place, but fit, without sensible error, the whole Nation: So I observe it is in this discourse, which though it doth most properly belong to those who have lost their Friends, yet hath many things in it which may indifferently serve all other persons who are troubled about worldly matters. And let me entreat you and all others that read me, to remember always, that God rules the World; and that those things which are Accidents to us, are Providences with him; and it will give you much satisfaction in your hearts. He hath made all these things mutable, and therefore it is a Madness to think that they must always stand as we would have them; and yet he is so good, that he hath made something good for us in every mutation; so that it is a Folly to be discontented that they

all, and pray for a new heart.

have done any evil, then be humbled for the neglect of so much good, which may be the Reason of that evil. For when a malady doth affect a particular part, the whole body must be purged; or else if we apply the remedy only to that part, we shall but drive the humour to some other place. And sixthly, I would wish you to apply the remedy presently before the trouble eat into the flesh. As soon as you see it is come, fly to God, and take your Antidotes, and beseech him to bless them to you. I cannot but here again transcribe another excellent speech of the same Heathen. Either God can do something, or he cannot: If he can do nothing, why dost thou pray to him? If he can do something, why dost thou not pray that thou mayest not fear, nor desire, nor be sad for any of these things, rather than that this or that thing should be or not be to thee? If he can help us, then he can help us to be without a thing as well as to have it; and not to fear a thing, as well as not to have it. Begin therefore to beg these things of God by prayer, and thou shalt see what will be the issue of it. One prays that he may have such an one to Wife: Do thou pray that thou mayest not desire her. other prays to be eased of a Tyranny:

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Do thou pray that thou mayest be able to bear it. O let not my Child die, saith another; but do thou say, O let me not fear the loss of it. Turn thy Prayers, I say, all this way, and see what will come of it. Thus that Royal Philosopher.

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And as for Faith, which is another thing there mentioned, I entreat you to believe, First, that God is not hard to please. Persuade yourselves that he is good and gracious, and accepts of the sincere, hearty and constant endeavours of his Servants to do his will. Secondly, Believe that he would have us pleased too, and delights in our contentment. not pleasing to him to see us troubled, nor doth he wish to see us full of perplexed thoughts: Neither doth he willingly grieve us or send such things upon us that should molest us, but he loves to have all his children in peace. And thirdly, Believe fully that he hath the greatest mind, to give that which will remedy the greatest cause of troubles, and that is his Divine Grace and Holy Spirit. Sin is that which makes all our sores so angry The Spirit of the most High is that which will enable us to mortify it; and this Spirit we may have as readily from him, as a piece of Bread from the hands of our dearest Parents. Go on courageously therefore, and be confident;