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There are providences of two sorts, seemingly good and seemingly
bad; and those do usually as Jacob did when he blessed the sons of
Joseph, cross hands and lay the blessing where we would not. There
are providences unto which we would have the blessings entailed; but
they are not. And these are providences that smile upon the flesh,
such as cast into the lap health, wealth, plenty, ease, friends, and
abundance of this world's good: because these, as Manasseh's name
doth signify, have in them an aptness to make us forget our toil,
our low estate, and from whence we were; but the great blessing is
not in them.
There are providences again, that take away from us whatever is
desirable to the flesh; such are sickness, losses, crosses,
persecution, and affliction; and usually in these, though they shock
us whenever they come upon us, blessing coucheth and is ready to
help us. For God, as the name of Ephraim signifies, makes us
fruitful in the land of affliction. He therefore, in blessing his
people, lays his hands across, guiding them wittingly and laying the
chiefest blessing on the head of Ephraim, or in that providence that
sanctifies affliction. Abel-what to the reason of Eve was he, in
comparison with Cain? Rachel called Benjamin the son of her sorrow;
but Jacob knew how to give him a better name.
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