his mother so called him because, as it seems, she brought him forth
with more than ordinary sorrow, was yet more honorable, more godly,
than his brethren.

He that has skill to judge of providences aright, has a great
ability in him "to comprehend with other saints what is the breadth
and length and depth and height;" but he that has no skill as to
discerning them, is but a child in his judgment in those high and
mysterious things. And hence it is that some shall suck honey out of
that at which others tremble, for fear it should poison them. I have
often been made to say, "Sorrow is better than laughter, and the
house of mourning better than the house of mirth." And I have more
often seen that the afflicted are always the best sort of
Christians. There is a man never well, never prospering, never but
under afflictions, disappointments, and sorrows; why, this man, if
he be a Christian, is one of the best of men: "They that go down to
the sea, that do business in great waters, they see the works of the
Lord and his wonders in the deep."

I do not question but that there are some that are alive who have
been able to say the days of affliction have been the best unto
them, and who could, if it were lawful, pray that they might always
be in affliction, if God would but do to them as he did when his
hand was last upon them; for by them he caused his light to shine.

Oh how should we, and how would we were but our eyes awake, stand
and wonder at the preservations, the deliverances, the salvations,
and benefits with which we are surrounded daily, while so many
mighty evils seek daily to swallow us up as the grave!