24 o fEff ea Jual Ca / fi ng. S s e r. XI T ferviceabletoGod, whereinothers cannot be? Rich menare diegreateft men in debt, for they owe more duties to God then others ; and as fuch have wherewithto be moreinftrumental to Godsglory then others , fo by their ex. a npie theymaybringon others. If the chief and great men in a place, do earnefily feek the Kingdom of Heaven, and promote 'that, this makes all in- feriorperfons to do the fame : They are like the fprings, if thefprings be poy- foned, then all the ftreams will be, but if they be fweet, then the ftreams will be. When Elilha was to cure the bitter waters; he takes (alt, and throweth it, notinto the ftreams, but into the fprings, becaufe that was the way to cure the firearm : And thus, if thegreat ones, and chief ones in a Parifh, if they love God, and good men, and good things, their example will even compel others to do thelike ; and certainly, you that have more greatnefs andwealth thenothers, be afraid, left you have not other mens fins to anfwer for ; other men have been incouraged tobe prophane, becaufe they have either feenyou fo, or at ¡call, you have not (hewedyour felt an enemy to fuch ways.. Seeing then God takes this way, few rich men,great men, honored men, comparative- ly toothers ; let us confider, I .eafonswhy The Reafons why; as theybe either onGodi part, or on theirpan: whoare God leaves refufedt And great men. Fhlt, On Gods part; Therefore God may rejeli there, to declare his abfolute So- AIMS On Gods vermi st and Sufficiency that he needs men, that heis God, nd able to part. g J .úi 1; a, carry on the great thingsof his Counfel, without the wildemof wife men, the ttrength ofgreat men, the repute ofnoble men in theworld; that is the rea- fon why great men inAuthority, need wife men for counfel, andmighty men for execution thereof,; becaufe they know not how todowithout other mens eyes, andothermens hands ; but God, he is the only greatandmighty God, none is his Counfellor, neither doth he need any help : Therefore thatGod might demonftrate this Sufficiencyand Independency ofhisnature, he cboofeth chofe thatall the world teeth l c doth not want ; for if God had wanted the gifts, and, parts, and power of men, he would have chofen other men: Oh thenbehbld thewifdom and power-of God, incalling of men I he calleth the foolith, the weak, the nothings of this world, that fo all may be convinced and fee, Godneeds not the creatures, but the creatures him ; and no wonder of this, for theworld is not enough fenfible of Gods greatneffe, its ready to count every thing great but him, to fear every thing but him; but God by thiswill teach us, that weare but as clay in thehands ofthe Potter ; as the Apo. file preffeth it at large in the Difcriminating all of God, and therefore will not fuller a man tobe fo prefumptuous, as inthofe things to fay,cvhy, doth Godfo ? Secondly, God therefore cloth not take manygreat and noble in this world;" that fo men may fee thefalfenef of that pofitign and concluron, which mendo fo oftenmake to themfelves ; vie. That Godgivcthçhim rhoWealth, thisgreatnefs, this honor above others, becaufebe loved; them more then others: This is the fweet poyfon that many drinkdown, Godbath givenme this fuccefs, this wealth,this profperity, this outward happinefs; and certainly if God would deltroy me, lie would never have done fo much for me: God forefaw fucha Self. flattery in the people of Ifrael, and therefore he loth again and again bid them take heed of fo much as thinking in their heart, that they had conquered their enemies, and poífeffed themfelves of Canaan, for their own righteoufneffe, as if there were more in them then in others : Nay, thou feel[ this Te>itand the like, may be like theHand -writingon the wall, tomake all thy joynts tremble. Thy greatnefs, thy plenty, thyabundance, is no fign ofGods graciousand lye- ciallove to thee, if while. he beftoweth thefe things on thee, thoumayeft be one ordained to eternal deftruftio,n ;therefore fee what theWife manobferveth, No man lLnoweth loveor hatred by thefe things, Ecclef. 9.1. We cannot conclude of
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