Miseries

God suffers not His saints and servants dear
To have continual pain or pleasure here;
But look how night succeeds the day, so He
Gives them by turns their grief and jollity.

We merit all we suffer, and by far
More stripes than God lays on the sufferer.

Who with a little cannot be content,
Endures an everlasting punishment.

God ne'er afflicts us more than our desert,
Though He may seem to overact His part:
Sometimes He strikes us more than flesh can bear;
But yet still less than grace can suffer here.

Sorrows our portion are: ere hence we go,
Crosses we must have; or, hereafter woe.

In the hope of ease to come,
Let's endure one martyrdom.