Ofthemeaner to OGtaint. contentatïon. 475 hale Godto doe miracles by ioyning the height of prof - perity,and the height of grace, and as it were heauen and earth in the fame fubie&? Againc, confider that in this flare ofcorruption, for the preferuing ofhumane fociety, it is ne. ceffarie that there fhouldbee fotneofineane quality, as well as honourable, poore as rich, weakeas well as flrong ; and why fhould any thinke that theconditionwherinGodbath placed him,is not as fit for himas for another ? for wherein hath he deferued betterat Gods hands that bee fhould pre- farehim ? or what hath hee that heehath not receiued ? or whyfhould any delire all, when as upon examinatinon bee $hall find thathe deferuethnothing ? Furthermore,if itplea- feth the Lord,themore to manifel?the gloryofhis wifedom and power, tocall vs firfl downe whom hee meaneth to ad- uance; tomake contemptible,whom hee purpofeth tomake glorious.; to affli&with pouerty and miferie, whom hee intendeth to inrich with eternal! happineffe,, and to bring vs toheauenas it were by hell gates ; why fhouldwee not 'willingly follow himeuen in the foulell way that will bring vs to thefaire iourneies endofioyandblefhedneffe ? Finally, let vs remember that the worldwas not made for our para- dife,wherewe fhould haueall ioy withoutforrow,and good without the mixture of any euill; but for our pilgrimage, wherefor finne we fhouldbe affli&ed,triedand proued, that fo through Godsfree mercybeing found fit,wee might bee receiued into our hcauenly countrie, and there inioy our happineffe and felicity, without the diflurbance ofany mi- ferie. Laflly, let vs confider, that God in his kingdome bath Feuera!l rewards, though the fame bleffedneffe , and as it were erminesofglory,ofdiuers makings. Hee bath one re- wardandcrowne for the patient poore, and another for the bountiful) rich ; one for them who are humbly honourable, and anotherfor them who are couragious in contempt; one for them who doe well, andanother for chofethat fullerfor well doing;meafuring his rewards accordingto the mearure ofhis gifts and graces : why therefore fhouldweenot defire to haue all fitted ? why fhould we not beecontent with any fo we may be lure ofone ? why fhouldwe not with patience Hh4 and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=