Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.D76 C552 1611 v.2

466 0fthe meaner toobtain contentation. Hebr.t ;.p, weought to be content with thole things whichwe haue, becaule the Lord hath promifed that he will not falle vs,nei- ther forfake vs;ifhe had promifed his giftsand not hitnfelfe, theremight be caufeofdifcontent, when they arewanting; as for example, ifhehad promilèd only honors, riches, and pleafuresoftheworld, andPaid thatthere mouldneuer falle, wefhould hauehad little comforror contentin our difgrace, pouertieand bitter griefes, becaufeall there things haue left vs;but whenhepromifcth vs himfelfe,thathewill neuer for- fake vs, we can neuer haue intl caufe ofdifcontent; becaufe what is wanting in ouroutward dive, he is readie to fupply byhis inward graces, and able to make ourlittle fufhcient,as well as plentie,and euen our nothing as good as all things. §.Se3,9. Seeing then ourGod inwhomwe trufl,isfoinfinitinwif- Tharchriftians dome and power, fo infinit allo in his loue towards vs, and may fsfelyand no leffe gratious in his promifes,then true in performance,as jecurelyrefion being truth it Idle, who cannot deceiue, and his words,Yea der cero¡ and Amen : what foule fhame were it for vs who profeffe Chritlianitie, and by often inflruólionhaue attained to the knowledge ofthefeprinciples; not to relyour feltteswholly vpon himwith full content, fubmittingour willes vnto his will,'and likingofthat which bellpleafeth him, Peeing the Plasm ',mini very heathens,who were ignorant ofthis truft, anddeflitute r¡uicquidDea of all there hopes and comforts, could yet refigne them- placet. Sencc. felues over to be ruled at the pleafureof their diuine powers: ep ff.74 foone ofthem faith, that that ought to pleafe man,whatfoe- necee efi pon_ uer pleafethGod : and againe,lt is neceffarie that eueryman mæp etatit ergo that isgood,fhould be ofgreat piety towards God,andcon- dees effe,&c. fequently that he Puffer with a patientmind whatfoeuer hap- epí6 peneth vnto him, knowing that it happeneth by divinepro- uidence which gouerneth all things. Neither in truth can there be amore effe&uall argument,tomoue vs veto conten- cationof mind, and to beare whatfoeuer befaliethvswith patienceand comfort, then to confider, that God, who is in himfelfe infinite in wifedome and knowledge, and veto vs moll gratious and mercifuI!, doth fo order and gotterne all things with his prouidence, that not fo much as afparrow canlight on the ground,or anhaire fall from ourhead,but as they

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