3. This submission implies in it our cleaving to God in all. To be pleased with God as a friend, when he seems to be coming forth against, us as an enemy; to lean upon a promise, when all the ways leading to the performance are shut up; to rejoice in God when we have nothing left beside to rejoice in, and faith is hard put to it to call God ours. Thus, to cleave to God when we do not find comfort from him, this is believing indeed; to love the hand that smites, this is true grace and great grace. A noble act of faith was that, Job xiii. 15. “though he slay me, yet will I trust in him;” So “Abraham staggered not at the promises through unbelief,” Rom. iv. 20. He brought God’s promises and faithfulness close together, and considered none of the difficulties nay absurdities, which came between them: It was not--“Is this reasonable? What probability is there in that? How can these things be?” &c. but being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; he clave to him, abode by his promise in a way of faith and firm dependance. This is the true nature of submission, and is contained in that expression in my text, “It is well.” A word of use.-- USE 1. Wonder not at your trials, be they never so strange: “All is well;” some secret end is to be answered which you see not; God is in all; the hand and love of a Father is there. They are to purge from sin, to wean from the world, to bring you from the foot of God, to shew you that your rest is not here, that it lies beyond the grave. What though they make you smart, they do you the more good: this argues your sensibleness under the rod; that is not a rod which does not cause smart; the sharpest physic does most service, because it reaches the inward, hidden cause, not one of our many trials which we could well spare. USE 2. Do not think any trial sanctified, till you have a suitable frame to the trial, whatever it be. Are you humbled? Are you prayerful? Are you submissive? Have you looked inward, and confessed your sin, saying, Take away all iniquity? If the affliction has not brought you to this, it hath done you no good. For all you may have borne, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. USE 3. Do not think of other means, whereby God’s end in visiting you might have been as well answered; that is, in fact, to quarrel with God in what he has done, or is doing. Have a care of your thoughts; unsubmission slips in at that door before one is aware. “It is well,” is the only soul quickening and God-glorifying frame. God that has appointed the end, has settled, and he will order the means: Rest there, and “all is well.” HINTS TO THE AFFLICTED.