Let us search and try our ways
stead of murmuring and complaining, let us search for something
that may support and comfort, teach and instruct, under
afflictive providences; let us search into the love of God,
which, though it cannot be fully searched out, it will be found
to be from everlasting to everlasting; and that all afflictions
spring from it; and that it continues notwithstanding them: let
us search into the covenant of grace, in which provision is made
for afflictions in case of disobedience, and for supports under
them: let us search the Scriptures, which are written for our
comfort; and it is much if we do not find some in the instances,
examples, and experiences of other saints therein recorded: let
us search after a greater degree of the knowledge of Christ, and
of his grace; so shall we be more conformable to his sufferings
and death, and patient under our troubles: let us search into our
own hearts, and examine ourselves, whether we have true
repentance for sin, true faith in Christ; and whether he is in
us, or not; and we have a part in him, which will make us easy in
every state: let us search into the present dispensation, in
order to find out the cause of it, which is sin; and the end of
it, which God has in it for our good: let us search "our ways",
and "try them", by the word of God, the standard of faith and
practice; and see what agreement there is between them: let us
try our thoughts, words, and actions, by the law of God, which is
holy, spiritual, just, and good; and we shall see how abundantly
short they come of it: and let us try "our ways", and compare
them with the ways of God, which he has prescribed in his word;
and we shall find that the one are holy, the other unholy; the
one plain, the other crooked; the one dark, the other light; the
one pleasant, and peace is in them, the other not; the one lead
to life, the other to death; see ( Isaiah
55:7-9 ) ; and turn again to the Lord;
by repentance, as the Targum adds; let us turn out of our sinful
ways, upon a search and examination of them; and turn to the
Lord, his ways and worship, from whom we have departed, and
against whom we have sinned; acknowledging our iniquities, who
receives graciously, is ready to forgive, and does abundantly
pardon.