546 Chap. 31. An Expojítion upon the Booke of Jo a. Varf.25, There is a vanitie, that is, a fuccefslefsneffe in all that we put our heads. or hearts Or hands unto, till God breathes a bleffiag upon us. We build in vaine, and watch in vaine, and labour in vaine, if God with hold or with-draw his bleffing. I ( faith S6lornon, &el: 9 i s. ) returned andJaw under the Sun, that the race is not ro the /milt, nor the battel to the fireng,neitioer yet bread to thewife, nor riches ro men of underfiandinir, nor favour to men of skill, b.,t time and chance hapneth to themall ; that is , they are under the over-rulipg and all difpofing hand of God ; Which gives filch it- fues to mens undertakings as himfelfe *3f-es , not inch as they purpose and intend; fo that they feeme to fall out rather cafually then anfweraNy to chore means, which have been urd and man. rag'd with the greateft probability in order to their attainment. Therefore let no man glory in man, how fwift, how ftrong, how wife, how underflanding, how skillful! foever, for no man is able to allure the (ffeei ofwhat he engageth in or goeth about. He that t iiinkes he can doe any one thing effeaually,affutnes his pri- vilecge who alone dothall things. Thirdly , Obferve. Carnal! or naturali men afcribe their wealth to their own get, ring mere then to the bleffing ofGod. When a godly man bath got much in the world, and bath been. very indulirious in getting it ; when the iffue of his labours rifeth not only up to, but exceedes his expeetation ; he faith ( as Peter when he had heal'd the Creple) why !landyee looking upon meet as if I by ray own power badger this wealth. When others admire his fucceffe, he puts it back, with a why doe yee take notice of mee, as ifmy wit, my policy, my cunning, my induftry, my hand had done this. I know forneare forward enough to afcribe that to the bic fling ofGod, which they have more reafon to charge upon their own fin, and indireff dealing,upon their injulticeand unrighteoufneffe; take heed of fathering Inch riches upon the blaring ofGod. Many are rich by common providence ; God lets them profper in theirfin as a punifhment oftheir fin. Only they who thriveby righteoufneffe may fay oftheir wealth as 7a- cob ofhis Children, This is that wealth which God loath gracioully given us. Now as forne are rich by the grace and favour ofGod; to. none are rich but by the leave ofGod. There are many y,
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