Ofthemeanes to ottaineeontesrtation. 467 they areguidedby it. Whereofit is that our Sauiour Chrift Matth.e perfuading vs to lay afidecarking care, & to refs wholly vp- onGodwith fomentation ofmind, Both chiefly inttflvpon this reafon, as being moll powerful! and effcetuail. For if there be no doubt tobeemade either ofGods ability, or of his loue; and ifwe certainely know that byhis wife, power.. full and moll gracious prouidence, he appointeth, diredieth and gouerneth althings whatfoeuer,which happf vntovs,or anyway concerne vs:thenmull we alloneceffarily conclude, that all that befallethvs is for the bell; and that the calling, Rate and condition wherein wee liue, though in it felfe it mayfeeme euill and full ofmiferie, and were in truth fo as it fecmeth, vnto other men, yet vnto vs it is ofall others mofi good andprofitable, feeing it is appointed and allottedvn- tovs by God, whole infinite wifedome, power, truth, and loue wouldhaue difpofedotherwife ofvs,hadhe not known this efiate moll fitting for vs; and would not haue denied vnto vs any thingwhich our hearts delire, but that hee kno- weth thatthey would doevs morehurt thengood, and hin- der,rather then further the eternal! faluation ofour foules. So the Pfalmifi tellcthvs,that thofe who feare the Lord (hall want nothing ; the which he limiteth and rc firaineth in the nextverfe, becaufe weare ready to make ourconcupifcence, Pral'34'9.to. and notreafon and truth,the meafureofour wants, telling vs that they fhallnot want any thingwhich is good; for other- wife,ifGod fhould bellow vpon vs thofe things which hee knoweth would be hurtful! voto vs,though they be good in their owne nature, theywould be euill unto vs, and throughPfal.r6.6. our abufe,ofbenefits become corks. And therefore vvhatfo- Si malli quod euer our condition or portion is, weemay fafcly conclude, preptercurom that it is bell for vs, and fay with the Prophet Dauid, the babet veussno-. Imes are fallenveto me inpleafant pleces,yea Hoene agoodi'yhe- bis largit ue elf, ritage; praifing the Lord for thatwe haue, andnotmurmu- illudquoque ring for that we haue not.For ifwee know thatfor thecare intelligas quod and loue whichGodbcareth vs, heehath giuen vnto vs that eu rammen /em wehaue; let vsknow altothat in the fainecare and loue hee ramtribuit. hathmeafured veto vs our proportion, which fhould make Chrytott.in vsreioyce in thofe things which we haue receiued, and not r.Cor. u. lie. H h z breake mil. 19'
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