Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Oft he meanes to ottaineeontesrtation. 467 they are guided by it. Whereof it is that our Sauiour Chrift Matth.e perfuading vs to lay afide carking care, & to refs wholly vp- on God with fomentation ofmind, Both chiefly inttflvpon this reafon, as being moll powerful! and effcetuail. For if there be no doubt to bee made either of Gods ability, or of his loue; and if we certainely know that by his wife, power.. full and moll gracious prouidence, he appointeth, diredieth and gouerneth althings whatfoeuer,which happf vnto vs,or any way concerne vs:then mull we allo neceffarily conclude, that all that befalleth vs is for the bell; and that the calling, Rate and condition wherein wee liue, though in it felfe it may feeme euill and full of miferie, and were in truth fo as it fecmeth, vnto other men, yet vnto vs it is of all others mofi good and profitable, feeing it is appointed and allotted vn- to vs by God, whole infinite wifedome, power, truth, and loue wouldhaue difpofed otherwife ofvs,had he not known this efiate moll fitting for vs; and would not haue denied vnto vs any thing which our hearts delire, but that hee kno- weth that they would doe vs more hurt then good, and hin- der,rather then further the eternal! faluation of our foules. So the Pfalmifi tellcth vs,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 meafure of our wants, telling vs that they fhall not want any thing which 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 through Pfal.r6.6. our abufe,ofbenefits become corks. And therefore vvhatfo- Si malli quod euer our condition or portion is, wee may fafcly conclude, preptercurom that it is bell for vs, and fay with the Prophet Dauid, the babet veussno-. Imes are fallenveto me in pleafant pleces,yea Hoene agoodi'y he- bis largit ue elf, ritage; praifing the Lord for that we haue, and not murmu- illudquoque ring for that we haue not. For if wee know that for the care intelligas quod and loue which God bcareth vs, hee hath giuen vnto vs that eu ram men /em we haue; let vsknow alto that in the faine care and loue hee ramtribuit. hathmeafured veto vs our proportion, which fhould make Chrytott.in vs reioyce in thofe things which we haue receiued, and not r.Cor. u. lie. H h z breake mil. 19'