Chap. 36. eAnEx'pofttion aspon the Bock of Jo a;. Verf. a 1. pleajfres.So that Elihrs in holding out this promife tofob, would rather clear his judgement froman error concerning the lafiing- nefs or continuance of his painsand furrows, than heat his affe Li- ons in the expe&ation of joyesand pleafures in this world. Fourthly , I anfwer , Though the people ofGod have not al- wayes dayes of fuch outward profperity, nor years of fuch fenfi- tive pleafures, yet they have that which is better,and if they have nopleafures, they do not want them. The Apoffle could fay ( Phil. 4.11. ) I have learned in what ,Hate foever Iam, there- with to be content. What is pleafure if content be not ? We may have outward pleafures, yet no content, but he that hath content within, cannot mifs of pleafure. Aman may have riches, bur. no contentment,but he that hath contentment is very rich,( i 7"im.6.. 6.)Gadline fs with contentment isgreatgaine, and great gaine is profperity this great gaine, this heart-pleafure or foul-refl,con- tentmenr, is the affured portion of thofe who obeyand ferve the Lord, what-ever their outward portionbe in this world. And he may be faid to fpend his dayes ingood, and his years in pleafure, who bath thefe pure gaines.ofgracious contentment, refling the foul inGod in-all conditions. The life of man (that is, the com- fort of his life) doch not corfifl in the abundance of that which he poffeffeth, (Luk! 12. 15. ) or in fenfe- pleafures ; but in that fweet compofure and fedatenefs of his foul, reffing by faith in the promifes of God, or rather in the Godof the promifes,and fo fucking fweetnefs from them. Laftly, As though a fervant of God íhculd be exercifed with forrows all the dayes of his life, yet he cannot be faid to fpend his dayes in forrow, becaufe he meets with many refrefhing inter- valls and fltines of favour from the face of God in the midff of thofe clouds , fo he may be raid to fpend his dayes in pleafure,be- caufe at leaf+, when his dayes here are fpenr, he confummates his dayes ( which is one figniflcation of theword) by an entrance in- to everlaftingpleafures. So much for the anrwer of therequeflions, concerning this pro- mile, They (hall fpend their dayes in profperity , and theiryears in pleafure, From the promife it felt, Note ; Firil, Obedience to God is profitable to man. God hash no profit by our Obedience, but we have. God Both riot. z47
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