Afflictions quicken our pace on the way to heaven; it is with us as with children sent on an errand, if they meet with apples or flowers by the way, they linger and make no great haste home, but if anything frighten them, then they run with all the speed they can to their father’s house. In prosperity, we are gathering the apples and flowers, and do not much mind heaven, but if troubles begin to arise, and the times grow frightful, we make more haste to heaven, and with David, “run the way of God’s commandments” (Psa. 119:32).