Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the meaner to OGtaint. contentatïon. 475 hale God to 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 of corruption, for the preferuing ofhumane fociety, it is ne. ceffarie that there fhould bee fotne ofineane quality, as well as honourable, poore as rich, weake as well as flrong ; and why fhould any thinke that the condition wherin God bath placed him, is not as fit for him as for another ? for wherein hath he deferued better at Gods hands that bee fhould pre- fare him ? or what hath hee that hee hath not receiued ? or why fhould any delire all, when as upon examinatinon bee $hall find that he deferueth nothing ? Furthermore,if it plea- feth the Lord,the more to manifel? the glory of his wifedom and power, to call vs firfl downe whom hee meaneth to ad- uance; tomake contemptible,whom hee purpofeth to make glorious.; to affli& with pouerty and miferie, whom hee intendeth to inrich with eternal! happineffe,, and to bring vs toheauen as it were by hell gates ; why fhould wee not 'willingly follow himeuen in the foulell way that will bring vs to the faire iourneies end ofioy and blefhedneffe ? Finally, let vs remember that the world was not made for our para- dife,where we fhould haue all ioy without forrow,and good without the mixture of any euill; but for our pilgrimage, wherefor finne we fhouldbe affli &ed,tried and proued, that fo through Gods free 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- ward and crowne for the patient poore, and another for the bountiful) rich ; one for them who are humbly honourable, and another for them who are couragious in contempt; one for them who doe well, and another for chofe that fuller for well doing;meafuring his rewards according to the mearure of his gifts and graces : why therefore fhould wee not defire to haue all fitted ? why fhould we not bee content with any fo we may be lure ofone ? why fhould we not with patience Hh4 and