Ofthemeaner to ebtaitrecontrntation. .469- andmuff the Lord beeHinted, fo as beemaynot giueaccor- ding toh ispleafure that allowance to euery one which hee knoweth moil requifite, Peeing his wifedome is infinite and his loue incomprehenfible,refpedlingtheperfonofnone,but doing good toall,as their flare and condition doth require ? We find by experience that one man is betteredby liberty, another byrefiraint. One being of an ingenuous nature, is made better bybenefits, another ofa more feruile difpofiti- onbecommethworfe,and is onelymended with threats and punifhments : vpon the one kindneffe worketh,vpon the o- therflare. Thisman is fit for employmentwhen he hath well fed, another is fodrowfie that he is goodfor nothing but to fleepe.Nowwho is mote fit to iudgeof thy nature and dif- pofition,and accordingly to allot vnto thee the moil fitting proportion? Thou,who beingblinded with pride and felfe- loue ouerweenefl thy gifts, and thinkefl thou couldefi well let.17.1 à bearea faile,which in truth wouldouerturne thee; or God, who hauing made theeofnothing fearcheth the heart and Heb.;.s4, raines,and plainelyfeeth all thy fecret thoughtsand hidden imaginations, notwithflanding all chore vailes which felfe- loue bath call ouer them? Thou deficit honours, butGod knoweth that pridelurking in thy heart, would if thou had- deft them, makethee infolent and the more ambitious; thou wouldeft wallow in worldly delights, but Godknoweth that thouwouldef+dote fomuch vpó them, that thou woul- defl neglcólthe ioyesofheauen; thou wifhefl tobee rich in goods, but God knoweth they would make thee poore in godlineffe : thou defireflhealth andflrength, but Godfeeth they would make thyfoule ficke andweake,caufing thee to bec the more fecure, and toput the day of repentance flare from thee. And therefore the Lord giueth thee contempt for honourto make theehumble, and fit by flooping to en- ter intothe gatesof heauen; hegiueth thee miferies for de- lights,that beingweaned from the world thou maiePi hun- ger afterhis eternal ioyes : in fieldofriches, bee giueth thee pouerty, that thy heart being empty of worldly vanities, may be filled withhis graces ; and for health hce giueth thee uìckneffi, that thoumaiePc daily caflvp thine accounts, and H h 3 bee
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