to behold any sorrow but for sin.—­What hath affliction grievous in it more than for a moment? or why should our afflictions here, have so much power or boldness as to oppose the hope of our joys hereafter?—­Madam, as the earth is but a point in respect of the heavens, so are earthly troubles compared to heavenly joys; therefore, if either age or sickness lead you to those joys, consider what advantage you have over youth and health, who are now so near those true comforts.  Your last letter gave me earthly preferment, and I hope kept heavenly for yourself:  but would you divide and choose too?  Our College customs allow not that:  and I should account myself most happy, if I might change with you; for I have always observed the thread of life to be like other threads or skeins of silk, full of snarles and incumbrances.  Happy is he, whose bottom is wound up, and laid ready for work in the New Jerusalem.—­For myself, dear Mother, I always feared sickness more than death, because sickness hath made me unable to perform those offices for which I came into the world, and must yet be kept in it; but you are freed from that fear, who have already abundantly discharged that part, having both ordered your family and so brought up your children, that they have attained to the years of discretion, and competent maintenance.  So that now, if they do not well, the fault cannot be charged on you, whose example and care of them will justify you both to the world and your own conscience; insomuch that, whether you turn your thoughts on the life past, or on the joys that are to come, you have strong preservatives against all disquiet.  And for temporal afflictions, I beseech you consider, all that can happen to you are either afflictions of estate, or body, or mind.  For those of estate, of what poor regard ought they to be? since, if we had riches, we are commanded to give them away:  so that the best use of them is, having, not to have them.  But perhaps, being above the common people, our credit and estimation calls on us to live in a more splendid fashion:  but, O God! how easily is that answered, when we consider that the blessings in the holy Scripture are never given to the rich, but to the poor.  I never find ’Blessed be the rich,’ or ‘Blessed be the noble;’ but, ‘Blessed be the meek,’ and, ‘Blessed be the poor,’ and, ’Blessed be the mourners, for they shall be comforted.’—­And yet, O God! most carry themselves so, as if they not only not desired, but even feared to be blessed.—­And for afflictions of the body, dear Madam, remember the holy Martyrs of God, how they have been burned by thousands, and have endured such other tortures, as the very mention of them might beget amazement:  but their fiery trials have had an end; and your’s—­which, praised be God, are less,—­are not like to continue long.  I beseech you, let such thoughts as these moderate your present fear and sorrow; and know that if any of yours should prove a Goliah-like trouble, yet you may say with David, ’That God,