And if that be so, we pray that God,
instead of taking away our grief, may send us of his goodness
either spiritual comfort to take it gladly or at least strength to
bear it patiently.
For if we determine with ourselves that we will take no comfort in
anything but the taking of our tribulation from us, then either we
prescribe to God that he shall do us no better turn, even though he
would, than we will ourselves appoint him; or else we declare that
we ourselves can tell better than he what is better for us. And
therefore, I say, let us in tribulation desire his help and
comfort, and let us remit the manner of that comfort unto his own
high pleasure. When we do this, let us nothing doubt but that, as
his high wisdom better seeth what is best for us than we can see it
ourselves, so shall his sovereign high goodness give us that thing
that shall indeed be best.
For otherwise, if we presume to stand to our own choice--unless God
offer us the choice himself, as he did to David in the choice of
his own punishment, after his high pride conceived in the numbering
of the people--we may foolishly choose the worst. And by
prescribing unto God ourselves so precisely what we will that he
shall do for us, unless of his gracious favour he reject our folly,
he shall for indignation grant us our own request, and afterward
shall we well find that it shall turn us to harm.
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