en
from the Light of Nature, might have learn'd silent Submission: How
much more then a Christian Parent, who hath presented his Child to GOD
in this initiatory Ordinance; and perhaps also many a time, both
before and since, hath presented himself at the Table of the Lord!
Have I not there taken that _Cup of Blessings_, with a declared
Resolution of accepting every other _Cup_ how bitter soever it might
be, _which my heavenly Father_ should see fit to _put into my
Hand_[p]? When I have perhaps felt some painful Fore-bodings of what I
am now suffering; I have, in my own Thoughts, particularly singled out
that dear Object of my Cares and my Hopes, to lay it down anew at my
Father's Feet, and say, _Lord thou gavest it to me, and I resign it to
thee; continue, or remove it, as thou pleasest._ And did I then mean
to trifle with GOD? Did I mean in effect to say, _Lord, I will give it
up, if thou wilt not take it?"_

REFLECT farther, I beseech you, on your _secret Retirements_, and
think, as surely some of you may, "How often have I there been on my
Knees before GOD on account of this Child; and what was then my
Language? Did I say, Lord, I absolutely insist on its Recovery; I
cannot, on any Terms or any Considerations whatsoever, bear to think
of losing it?" Sure we were none of us so indecently transported with
the fondest Passion, as to be so _rash with our Mouths_ as _to utter_
such _Things before_ the Great GOD[q]. Such Presumption had deserv'd a
much heavier Punishment than we are now bearing, and, if not
retracted, may perhaps still have it.--Did not one or another of us
rather say, "Lord, I would humbly intreat, with all due Submission to
thy superior Wisdom and sovereign Pleasure, that my Child may live;
but if it must be otherwise, _not my Will, but thine be done_[r]? I
and mine are in thine Hand, _do with me_, and with them, _as seemeth
good in thy Sight_[s]". And do we now blame ourselves for this? Would
we unsay it again, and, if possible, take ourselves and our Children
out of his Hands, whom we have so often owned as all-wise and
all-gracious, and have chosen as our great Guardian and theirs?

LET it farther be consider'd, it is done by that GOD who has _accepted
of this Surrender_, so as to undertake the Administration of our
Affairs: "He is become my Covenant GOD in Christ," may the Christian
say; "and, in consequence of that Covenant, he hath engaged to manage
the Concerns and Interests of his People so, th