3. Rule.

If you would not be overwhelmed by trouble for the loss of your Relations, then turn to God under your trouble, and pour out your sorrows by prayer into his bo∣som.

This will ease and allay your troubles: Blessed be God for the ordinance of prayer; How much are all the Saints be∣holding Page  153 to it at all times, but especially in heart sinking and distressful times! It's some relief, when in distress we can pour out our trouble into the bosom of a Wife, or faithful Friend; How much more when we leave our complaint before the gracious, wise and faithful God? I told you before of that holy man, who having lost his dear and only Son, got to his Closet; there poured out his soul freely to the Lord, and when he came down to his friends that were waiting below to comfort him, and fearing how he would bear that stroke; he came from his duty with a chearful countenance, telling them, he would be content to bury a Son (if it were possible) every day, provided he might but enjoy such com∣fort as his soul had found in that private hour.

Go thy way, Christian, to thy God, get thee to thy knees in the cloudy and dark day; retire from all Creatures that thou mayst have thy full liberty with thy God, and there pour out thy heart before him, in free, full and broken-hearted confes∣sions of sin: Judge thy self worthy of Hell as well as of this trouble: Justifie God in all his smartest strokes; beg him in this distress to put under thee the ever∣ing Page  154 arms: intreat one smile, one gra∣cious look to inlighten thy darkness and chear thy drooping spirit. Say with the Prophet, Jer. 17. 17, Be not then a terrour to me, thou art my hope in the day of evil. And try what relief such a course will afford thee. Surely if thy heart be sin∣cere in this course, thou shalt be able to say with that holy man, Psal. 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts which I had within me, thy comforts have delighted my soul.