Secondly. Rejoyce not as other people

Secondly. Rejoyce not as other people.

Although we enjoy the same blessings that others do, yet we have not always the same cause to rejoice as others have, though we enjoy the same blessings: I say, it may be others have more cause to rejoice in a little than we have to rejoice in abundance. Do not say in your hearts, Others are merry and cheerful, Why should not I be so too? I have as good an estate as such a one has, & as fair a dwelling as he has, & as comely children as he has, why should not I be merry? But it may be there's not that breach between God & such a one as between God & you, it may be there is not so much guilt upon the spirits of such men as upon your spirit, therefore you must not rejoice as they do; though you have the same outward blessings that such and such have, yet it does not follow that you should rejoice as such do; you have cause rather to have your thoughts work thus, such and such men are cheerful indeed, yes they may, for they have not provoked God as I have done, I am conscious of those sins that I believe they are free from. A man that has a sore disease about him in his body, when he sees others that are merry he thinks with himself, yes indeed you may be merry, but if you felt that that I do you would have little cause to be merry.