Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

Thefixth petition expounded. bellowed thefe bleflings upon thee , fo many, fo great : Haft thou been thankful! to God the giver.' hath not thine heart been lift up with pride haft thou been carefull to pleafe him that bath been fo gracious unto thee r or haft thou been difplea fed with thy felf when thou haft offended fo good a God haft thou been ready to expofe thofe gifts which thou haft to the glory of God and relief of thy brethren r haft thou not trufted in thy riches and thine own means more then in the providence and blefïing of God e If in thefe refpeas thou haft been wanting, then by thefe trialls God would let thee fee what thou art,that thou mayeft be humbled before him, and mayeft truly labour to approve thy felf unto him by thy thankfiilneffe, humility, obe- dience, charity, affiance repofed in him, &c. The trialls of the left hand are fuch as croffe our 2. by afflí& - delres: as firft, when the Lord commandeth fuch °ns things as we are loth to do. So he tempted Abra- ham, Gen. 2 2. i . Secondly, when he exercifeth us with afi Lions which are hard for flefh and bloud to bear. So Job was tempted; and fo the godly in all ages. And therefore afhiCtions are called tenta- tions , Jam. I.2. i. Pet. I.7. laid upon them of God to try their faith,and their patience, their obe- dience, and their love, &c. and are therefore called trialls of faith, Jam. a . 3 . Revel. 2. io. The devil fball call fore of you into prifon, that ye may be tried. Ecclus 27.5. The fornace proveth the potters rapt: fo do ten - tations try mens thoughts, Pro. 17. 3. And as by winnowing the wheat is tried and fevered from the chaff, fo is the found Chriftian from the hypocrite 395'