17.     Amidst  so  many  just  reasons  for  his  de-
achment  from  the  world,  this  world  is  yet  dear
;o  him;  this  life,  this  short  life,  this  indigent
ife,  this  life  which  is  nothing  but  vanity  and
leception,  this  life  appears  more  desirable  than
leaven,  and  all  its  eternal  glory.     If,  then,  in
pite  of  so  many  disagreeables  in  this  life,  it  be
o  hard  to  quit  it  with  content,  what  would  be
>ur  condition  were  God  to  give  us  a  firmer
icalth,  a  longer  life,  and  a  more  flourishing
tate  of  affairs?    What  would  be  our  condition]
were  there  no  mortifications  in  high  rank,  no
ncertainty  in  friendships,  no  vicissitudes  in
ortune?

Our  third  complaint  against  God  regards
ic  rigour  of  his  judgments:  The  Jews  of  Mi-
ah's  time  had  experienced  this  in  many  cases,
nd  the  prophet  threatened  more.  "  Behold!

Lord  cometh  out  of  his  place,  and  will
read  upon  the  high  places  of  the  earth.  The
nountains  shall  be  molten  under  him,  and  the
alleys  shall  be  cleft  before  him.  Therefore  I
ill  wail  and  howl,  I  will  go  stript  and  naked,


384


GOD'S  CONTROVERSY  WITH  ISRAEL.
.  XLVI.
I  will  make  a  wailing  like  the  dragons,  and
make  a  mourning  as  the  owls,  for  her  wound
is  incurable.  Jerusalem  shall  become  heaps.
Zion  shall  be  plowed  as  a  field,"  chap.  i.  3,  4.
8,  9,  and  iii.  12.
