[ 1859] How it is that Afflictions lye oft-times so heavy.
IT is said of Hagar, That when her bottle of Water was spent, she sate down and fell a weeping,* 1.1 as if she had been utterly undone, her provision and her patience, her bottle and her hope were both out together: O what must she do? What? Why there was upon the very place, and that near at hand, comfort enough; a Well of water to refresh her, had she but had her eyes open to have seen it, Gen. 21. 19. Thus it is, that in the midst of A••••licti∣ons and distresse, Men whine and repine, as if they were quite lost, they eye t••e empty bottle, the crosse that is at present upon them, but for want of spirituall sight,* 1.2 they see not the Fountain of living waters, Christ Iesus with the open arms of his Mercy ready to relieve them; they, as it were, groan under the heavy burthen of oppression, but for want of coming to Christ and believing on him, they misse of that speedy refreshing, which otherwise they might happi∣ly enjoy.