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HAd this Bullock contented himself, and remained qui∣etly within his own bounds, his Owner had never put such an heavy clog upon his neck; but I see the prudent Hus∣bandman chuses rather to keep him with his clog, than lose him for want of one What this clog is to him, that is affli∣ction and trouble to me; had my soul kept close with God in liberty and prosperity, he would never thus have clogged
me with adversity; yea, and happy were it for me, if I might stray from God no more, who hath thus clogged me with pre∣ventive afflictions. If with David I might say, Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept thy word, Psal. 119. 67. O my soul! 'tis better for thee, to have thy pride clogged with poverty, thy ambition with reproach, thy canal ex∣pectancies with constant disappointments, than to be at liber∣ty to run from God and duty.
'Tis true, I am sometimes as weary of these, troubles, as this poor Beast is of the clog he draws after him, and often wish my self rid of them; but yet, if God should take them off, for ought I know I might have cause to wish them on again, to prevent a greater mischief. 'Tis storied of Basil, that for many years he was sorely afflicted with an inveterate head-ach, (that was his clog) he often prayed for the removal of it, al last God removed it; but instead thereof he was sorely exercised with the motions and temptations of lust, which when he perceived, he as earnestly desired his head∣ach again, to prevent a greater evil. Lord! if my corrup∣tions may be prevented by my affliction, I refuse not to be clogged with them; but my soul rather desires thou wouldst hasten the time when I shall be for ever freed from them both.