Houses and Ships Prepared for Storms
He that buildeth a house, doth not take care that the rain should not descend upon it, or the storm should not beat upon it: there is 710 fencing against these things, they cannot be prevented by a7iy care of ours; but he takes care that the house may be able io endure all weathers ‘without damage, A7id he that btdldeth a ship, doth 7iot make this his wo7-k, that it should 7icver meet with waves ayid billows; that is 17npossible; but that it 7nay be tight a7id staimch, a7id able to e7idure all tc77ipests. A 77ia7t that taketh care for his body, doth 7iot desire that he 7neet with 710 clia7ige of weather, hot or cold; but he p7’epa7’eth his dress that his body 7nay bear all incle77te7icics. Thus should Christians do: they should 7iot so 77iuch take care how to avoia afflictio7is as to be ready to bear them with an even and qtiiet
Let me then seek steadfastness that I may stand in every storm, strength that I may brave every tempest, and all the graces of the Spirit that I may be happy in every condition. I may not pray to be kept from the flood and the wind, but that my house may be built upon a rock. I may not ask that no tempest may assault iny barque, but that Jesus may be always in the vessel. I may not beg the Lord to change the arrangements of his providence.
and neither try me with the heat of prosperity nor the cold of adversity, but I must see to it that I buy of him raiment that I may be clothed amid all the changes of my circumstances.
Herein is wisdom. Let us learn it, even as the prudent woman of the Proverbs had learned it, of whom we read, “She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” Better to be prepared for trial than to be flying hither and thither to avoid it. Come, my soul, thou must make a passage across a rough sea, nerve thyself to it by grace divine, and the Lord shall yet be glorified in thee. A battle awaits thee. Do not attempt to run from the fight, but look to thine armour, and unsheathe thy sword.