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1. We must believe that all affliction, comes from God:
"Shall there be evil in the City, and the Lord hath not done it?
I form the light, and I create darkness; I make peace, and
I create evil: I the Lord do those things. I know O Lord,
(saith David) that thy Judgements are right, and that
thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me."

2. That as God [s??ds] it, so none can deliver us out of it
but God alone: "O our God wilt not thou Judge them?
we have no might against the great company that
cometh against us, neither know we what to do, but
our eyes are upon thee. This meditation draws
the heart from carnal repose, in means or [Friends?];
it expells vexations and distracting cases and estrangeth
from the use of unlawful means of deliverance: "The
Horse is prepared against the day of battle, but Safety is
of the Lord."

3. That the causes of all miseries & sorrow is Sin, and therefore
it is time for us to examine our ways, to humble ourselves
and to set upon Reformation. "I thought on my
ways (said David) and turned my feet into thy testimonies:"
when Manasseh was in affliction, He besought the Lord
his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God
of his Fathers: Surely it is meet to be said unto God.
I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any
more: That which I see not teach thou me: If I have
done iniquity, I will do no more:" The end of chastisement
is amendment of life, whence it recieves the name of
correction, which signifieth, to set aright or strait.

4. That --now God trieth our faith, patience, contention,
and meekness of spirit, He hath said unto
Crosses