Righteous Zeal Encouraged by Divine Protection

Oh, that this might seal up instruction to our own souls! What variety of calamities have we been exercised with, for many years! What Pharaoh-like spirits have we had under them! Oh, that we were delivered this once, and then all were well! How do we spend all our thoughts to extricate ourselves from our present pressures! If this hedge, this pit were passed, we should have smooth ground to walk on; -- not considering that God can fill our safest paths with snares and serpents. Give us peace, give us wealth, -- give us as we were, with our own, in quietness. Poor creatures! suppose all these desires were in sincerity, and not, as with the most they are, fair colours of foul and bloody designs; yet if peace were, and wealth were, and former things were, and God were not, what would it avail you?