crooks as they? but which of them, on the other hand, had such signal tokens of the divine favour? The greatest of men, as Samson and the Baptist, have been born of women naturally barren; so do the greatest crooks issue in the richest mercies to them that are exercised thereby.

7. It is the shortest and surest way to go straight to God with the crook in the lot. If we would have our wish in that point, we must, as the eagle, first soar aloft, and then come down on the prey. Mark v. 36. Our faithless out-of-the-way attempts to even the crook, are but our fool's haste, that is no speed; as in the case of Abraham's going in to Hagar. God is the first mover, who sets all the wheels in motion for evening the crook, which without him will remain immovable. Hos. ii. 21, 22.

Object. 1. "But it is needless, for I see, that though the crook in my lot may mend, yet it never will mend. In its own nature it is capable of being removed, but it is plain it is not to be removed, it is hopeless."

Ans. That is the language of unbelieving haste, which faith and patience should correct. Psal. cxvi. 11, 12. Abraham had as much to say for the hopelessness of his crook, but yet he applies to God in faith for the mending of it. Rom. iv. 19, 20. Sarah had made such a conclusion, for which she was rebuked. Gen. xviii. 13, 14. Nothing can make it needless in such a case to apply to God.

Object. 2. "But I have applied to him again and again for it, yet it is never mended."

Ans. Delays are not denials of suits at the court of heaven, but trials of the faith and patience of the petitioners. And whoso will persevere will certainly speed at length, Luke xviii. 7, 8. "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily." Sometimes indeed folks grow pettish, in the case of the crook in the lot, and let it drop out in their prayers, in a course of despondency, while yet it continues uneasy to them; but, if God mind to even it in mercy, he will oblige them to take it in again, Ezek. xxxvi. 37. "I will yet, for this, be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them," &c. If the removal come, while it is dropt, there will be little comfort in it: though it were never to be removed while we live, that should not cut off our applying to God for the removal; for there are many prayers not to be answered till we come to the other world, Rom. vii. 24, and there all will be answered at once.

Directions for rightly managing the application for removing the crook in the lot.

1. Pray for it, Ezek. xxxvi. 37. and pray in faith, believing that, for the sake of Jesus, you shall certainly obtain at length, and in this life too, if it is good for you; but without peradventure in the life to come. Matt. xxi. 22. They will not be disappointed that get the song of Moses and of the Lamb. Rev. xv. iii. And, in some cases of that

nature, extraordinary prayer, with fasting, is very expedient. Matt. xvii. 21.

2. Humble yourselves under it, as the yoke which the sovereign hand has laid on you, Micah vii. 9. "I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him," &c. Justify God, condemn yourselves, kiss the rod, and go quietly under it; this is the most feasible way to get rid of it, the end being obtained. James iv. 10. "Thou wilt prepare their hearts, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. Psal. x. 17.

3. Wait on patiently till the hand that made it mend it. Psal. xxvii. 14. Do not give up the matter as hopeless, because you are not so soon relieved as you would wish; "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James i. 4.-Leave the timing of the deliverance to the Lord; his time will at length, to conviction, appear the best, and it will not go beyond it. Isa. lx. 22. "I, the Lord, will hasten it in his time;" waiting on him, ye will not be disappointed, "For they shall not be ashamed that wait for me." Isa. xlix. 23.

Exhortation 2. What crook there is, which, in the settled order of things, cannot be removed or evened in this world, let us apply to God for suitable relief under it. For instance, the common crook in the lot of saints, viz. in-dwelling sin; as God has made that crook not to be removed here he can certainly balance it, and afford relief under it. The same is to be said of any crook, while it remains unremoved. In such cases apply yourself

to God, for making up your losses another way. And there are five things I would have you to keep in view, and aim at here.

1. To take God in Christ for, and instead of that thing, the withholding or taking away of which from you makes the crook in your lot. Psal. cxlii. 4, 5. There is never a crook which God makes in our lot, but it is in effect heaven's offer of a blessed exchange to us; such as Mark x. 21.

Sell whatsoever thou hast,—and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." In managing of which exchange, God first puts out his hand, and takes away some earthly thing from us, and it is expected we put out our hand next, and take some heavenly thing from him in the stead of it, and particularly his Christ. Wherefore has God emptied your left hand of such and such an earthly comfort? Stretch out your right hand to God in Christ, take him in the room of it, and welcome. Therefore the soul's closing with Christ is called buying, wherein parting with one thing, we get another in its stead, Matt. xiii. 45, 46. kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it." Do this, and you will be more than even hands with the crook in your lot.

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2. Look for the stream running as full from him as ever it did or could run, when the crook of the lot has dried it. This is the work of faith, confidently to depend on God for that which is denied us from the creature. "When my father and mo

ther forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." Psal. xxvii. 10. This is a most rational expectation for it is certain there is no good in the creature but what is from God; therefore there is no good to be found in the creature, the stream, but what may be got immediately from God, the fountain. And it is a welcome plea, to come to God and say, Now, Lord, thou hast taken away from me such a creature-comfort, I must have as good from thyself.

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3. Seek for the spiritual fruits of the crook in the lot. Heb. xii. 11. We see the way in the world is, when one trade fails, to fall on, and drive another trade; so should we, when there is a crook in the lot, making our earthly comforts low, set ourselves the more for spiritual attainments. our trade with the world sinks, let us see to drive a trade with heaven more vigorously; see, if by means of the crook, we can obtain more faith, love, heavenly-mindedness, contempt of the world, humility, self-denial, &c. 2 Cor. vi. 10. So while we lose at one hand, we shall gain at another.

4. Grace to bear us up under the crook, 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9. "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice;" and he said, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Whether a man be faint, and have a light burden, or be refreshed, and strengthened, and have a heavy one, it is all the same; the latter can go as easy under his burden as the former under his. Grace proportioned to the trial is what we should aim at; getting that, though the crook be not evened, we are even hands with it.