But to this it may be replied; that while we complain of injuries done us by men, and are prone to meditate revenge against them, we do not consider the great dishonour that we bring to God, and how much we deserve to be made the monuments of his fury, so that we should not obtain forgiveness from him, who are so prone to resent lesser injuries done to us by our fellow-creatures, Matt. xviii. 23. _& seq._ [3.] Others excuse their discontent, by alleging the greatness of their afflictions; that their burden is almost insupportable, so that they are pressed out of measure, above strength, and are ready to say with Job, _Even to day is my complaint bitter; my stroke is heavier than my groaning_, Job xxiii. 2. But to this it may be replied; that our afflictions are not so great as our sins, which are the procuring cause thereof; nor are they greater than some that befal others, who are better than ourselves; and, indeed, by indulging a discontented frame of spirit, we render them heavier than they would otherwise be. [4.] Some pretend, that they are discontented and uneasy because the affliction they are under, was altogether unexpected; and therefore they were unprovided for, and so less able to bear it. To this it may be replied; _1st_, That a Christian ought daily to expect afflictions in this miserable and sinful world, at least, so far as not to be unprovided for, or think it strange that he should be exercised with them, 1 Pet. iv. 12. _2dly_, We have received many unlooked for mercies; and therefore, why should we be uneasy because we meet with unexpected afflictions, and not rather set the one against the other. _4thly_, Some of God’s best children have oftentimes been surprized with afflictive providences, and yet have been enabled to exercise contentment under them. Thus the messengers who brought Job heavy and unexpected tidings of one affliction immediately following another, Job i. 13, & _seq._ did not overthrow his faith, or make him discontented under the hand of God; for, notwithstanding all this, he _worshipped_ and _blessed the name of the Lord_, ver. 20, 21. [5.] Others allege, that the change which is made in their circumstances in the world, from a prosperous to an afflicted condition of life, is so great, and lies with such weight upon their spirits, that it is impossible for them to be easy under it. But to this it may be answered, _1st_, That when God gave us the good things we are deprived of, he reserved to himself the liberty of taking them away when he pleased, as designing hereby, to shew his absolute sovereignty over us; and therefore, before this affliction befel us, it was our duty, according to the apostle’s advice, to _rejoice as though we rejoiced not_, and to _use the world as not abusing it_, 1 Cor. vii. 30. and not to think it strange, that we should be deprived of it, inasmuch as _the fashion_ thereof _passeth away_.