Inftruaions for the ([/oor. -------- CHAP. XXVII. 1JireEI:iom for the Poor. THere is no condition of life fo low or poor, but may be fanmjied, and fruitful, ami eom· fortable to us, if our own rnifundedhnding, or ~n.and ~egligence, do not pollute it or im· bitter it to us; If we do the Duty of our conditiOn f~1thfully , ":'e fha~l have n~ caufe. t_o murmurr at ir. Therefore I fhall here direct the Poor m the fpectal Duuu of the1r condltt– on; and if they will but confcionably perform them, it will prove a greater kindnefs to them, than jfl could deliver them from their poverty, and give them as much riches as they defire. Though I doubt this would be more pleafing to the mofi; and they would give me more thanks for money, than for reaching them how to want it. § t. D ir<d. 1· Vnderftand firft the tt{e and eflimatt of all earthly thingt 1 that they were never made Direl/. I· to be pur pnrrion and felicity, b1tt J'OUr provifion and hclp1 in the way ·to Heaven. And therefore they Prov. 1 8. 6. are nc-1.her to be eftimated nor defirecl limply for themftlvu (for fo there is nothing good but God) Jam. z.. S• but only as they arc NleanJ to the Greattjl Good. Therefore neither Poverty nor Richn, arc fimply to be rejyced in tor thcmfelves, as any part of our happincfs: But that condition is to be defired and rtj.•ycecl in which affordeth us the grcatdl: helps for Heaven, and that condition only is to be lamented and dillikr, which hindercth us moll: from Heaven, and from our duty. . 9· 2· D'trt:d. 2• See therefore tb.Jt y ou reaVy ta"e all thefe things, aJ matttrr in themfelvu indiffc- V~re8. 2· rent, and of [mall concernmmt to you; and a1 not worthy of much love, or care, or forrow, further tban thLJ ccnducc tb grcaur tbingr. We are like runners in a race, and Heaven o·r Htll will be our End; arid thererore woe to us, if by looking afide, or turning back, er flopping, or trifling about thefe matters, or burdening our felves with worldly trafh, we fbould lofe the race, and lofc our fouls. 0 Sirs, whar prcatcr matters than poverty or riches have we to mind? Can thcfe fouls that mufi thortly be in Heaven or H ll, have rime to befiow any fcrious thoughts, upon thtfe impertinencies? ShaH we fo much as lo.1~at the temporal things which are [ten, infiead of the tiJings etcrn.ll that are unflen? 2 Cor. 4· 18. Or fiull we ~hine undt:r thofe lighl aJJl;Ciions, which may be lo improved, as to »'or~{ for llf a far more cxcading and tttrnal. weight of glory? v. 17. Our pnfc::nt life is not in the abundcmce of the things which n-epofF[s : Much lefs is our ecernallife, Lu~e I 2· 1 5· · §. 3· DireCt. 3• 11mefore ta~heed that you judge not ofGodt Love, or of your J,.ppim[s or mifiry by Dirtfl. 3· .)'cur riches or povtrty, proJPerity or adverfity, as Jtnow;ng that tbey comt alik.! to all, and Love or hatred Ecclef. s. 14. is not to be difccrned by them : except only Gods Common Lovt as they are common mercies, to the. & 9· 2 • &9+ body. If a SurgeOn is not to be taken for a hater of you, becaufe he letteth you blood, nor a Phyficion becaufe he purgeth his P.alcnt, nor a l'ather bccaufc he correcteth his child; much lefs is God to be judged an _enemy ti> you or unmerciful, becau(C hH n:ifdum and not your folly difpofeth of -you, and proporuoneth your eftatcs. A carnal mind will Judge of. its own Happinefs and the Love of God by carnal thlngs, becaufc it favoureth not fpiritual mercies : But Grace giveth a Chril\ian another judgem~nr, rcllilh and dcfire : As Nature fettcth a man above the fvod and plea· furu of a Beafl. §. 4· Dire&. 4· Stedfaflly believe that God is every way fitter th'is you to difpofe of your t]/atc and Direll. 4 • y~u: He is inji1:itelywijt, and knoweth what is bdt and fittcfi for you : Be:: knoweth before hand P(:~!. ro. 1 S· what goo~ ~~ hur: any Hate of plenty or want will do you: He knoweth all your corruptlonr, and 1 Sam. :.. 7• what condt.tion wtll mofi condace ~o Ar~1;1gthen them or ddlroy them, and which will be your grcareft tcmprauons and fnares, and whtch w11l prove your fafeft flare : Much better than any Phylicion or P.trent knoweth l.1ow to dyet his Patient or his Child. And his L~)VC and kindnefs is much greater .. to you, than ~ours IS ~o your felf: And therefore he will not be wan.ting in willingne[1 ro•do you good : And hts authonty over you i~ abfolme, and therefore his difpofal of you mutt be unqudlionable. It u thcLod: let l1im dl whJt {itmrth him g,d, 1 Sarn. 3· t8. 1be WiU of Gud!hould be the Rrjt and fatts-tatbon of )'Our rrilfJ, A&s 2 I. I4· §. 5· D1nCJ. 5· Su.df:Jjtly belhve ti.Jat ordi'nari'ly RicheJ are for more dangerouJ to the fostl th.z 11 po- Dircll. 5 • -:wty, a11d a greater lunderance to nrcn1 faivation. Bt:lieve experience: How few of the Rich and Rulers of the ~arth, arc hof:y, . hea'IJCnly,·ftl{denyi1ig, ttzortified mrn l Believe your s.. viour, Luke J8. 24,2 5, 27· fl!l:v h1 n·d!J jh<.~U t~cy tilt IJ.Jve r~cbu e~ter into tbe J(inl,~IJWJ of' God l For it M eafier for ·aCamct to go tbr ugfJ a nudfcJ ~Y1 • th.z1t for a rtch man to enter mto the Kiugdom o[Gi!d: And '_ tbry that be.zr~ it J~id, n:ho rhen can be javed? A~~ he fa!i:l, lbe tbihgJ whi~b are unpof!ible with mm, ar-e p~.ffikle .wzth ~od.. Sv t:~1at yuu fet;= that rhe_d1fficulry IS fo gn:ar of favmg fuch as are Rich, that i ~o men 1t 1s a thrng 11npoff1blc) but 'to Gods Oinniporcncy only it is poffiblc. So 1 Cor. I· 2 6. For ,,
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