He then that is able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; must be a good expositor
of providences, and must see the way, and the workings of God by
them. Now there are providences of two sorts, seemingly good, and
seemingly bad, and those do usually as Jacob did, when he blessed
the sons of Joseph, cross hands; and lay the blessing where we
would not. "And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right
hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him" (Gen 48:17). I
say there are providences unto which we would have the blessings
entailed, but they are not. And they are providences that smile
upon the flesh; to wit, such as cast into the lap, health, wealth,
plenty, ease, friends, and abundance of this world's good: because
these, [Manasseh, as his name doth signify,] have in them an aptness
to make us forget our toil, our low estate, and from whence we
were (Gen 41:51): but the great blessing is not in them. There are
providences again, that take away from us whatever is desirable
to the flesh; such is the sickness, losses, crosses, persecution
and affliction; and usually in these though they make us shuck 3
whenever they come upon us, blessing coucheth, and is ready to help
us. For God, as the name of Ephraim signifies, makes us "fruitful
in the land of our affliction" (Gen 41:52). He therefore, in blessing
of his people, lays his hands across, guiding them wittingly, and
laying the chiefest blessing on the head of Ephraim, or in that
providence, that sanctifies affliction. Abel! what, to the reason
of Eve was he, in comparison of Cain. Rachel called Benjamin the
son of her sorrow: but Jacob knew how to give him a better name
(Gen 35:18). Jabez also, though his mother so called him, because,
as it seems, she brought him forth with more than ordinary sorrow,
was yet more honourable, more godly, than his brethren (1 Chron