Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the meaner to ebtaitre contrntation. .469- and muff the Lord beeHinted, fo as bee may not giueaccor- ding to h is pleafure that allowance to euery one which hee knoweth moil requifite, Peeing his wifedome is infinite and his loue incomprehenfible,refpedlingthe perfon ofnone,but doing good to all,as their flare and condition doth require ? We find by experience that one man is bettered by liberty, another by refiraint. One being of an ingenuous nature, is made better bybenefits, another of a more feruile difpofiti- on becommethworfe,and is onely mended with threats and punifhments : vpon the one kindneffe worketh,vpon the o- ther flare. This man is fit for employment when he hath well fed, another is fo drowfie that he is good for nothing but to fleepe. Now who is mote fit to iudge of 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 beare a faile,which in truth wouldouerturne thee; or God, who hauing made thee of nothing fearcheth the heart and Heb. ;.s4, raines,and plainelyfeeth all thy fecret thoughts and 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 God knoweth that thou wouldef+dote fo much vpó them, that thou woul- defl neglcólthe ioyes ofheauen; thou wifhefl to bee rich in goods, but God knoweth they would make thee poore in godlineffe : thou defirefl health and flrength, but God feeth they would make thy foule ficke and weake, caufing thee to bec the more fecure, and to put the day of repentance flare from thee. And therefore the Lord giueth thee contempt for honour to make thee humble, and fit by flooping to en- ter into the gates of heauen; he giueth thee miferies for de- lights,that being weaned from the world thou maiePi hun- ger after his eternal ioyes : in field ofriches, bee giueth thee pouerty, that thy heart being empty of worldly vanities, may be filled with his graces ; and for health hce giueth thee uìckneffi, that thou maiePc daily caflvp thine accounts, and H h 3 bee