Mans care is morefor tempo. rail things,than Ipirituall. the third SondayinLent. Ser, 23. it me : For hiswill is immutable ; andbegging,beit inwhatkindfo euer , fee- meth to beZuiddamaccefforiam.But hisanfivereis, That begging is themeanes which God bath appointedandpreordained , through which youmay receiué that bleflingwhich God beforeall ages was determined to giue vnto you. So that Prayer, is that rope or cord by which we draw vp water from that deepe Well of Gods euerflowingbountie. Laftly,another doubt is put,whether theewere willingtobeg thisliuingWa- teror no, at Chrifts hands c For thefinner will euerie footebee craningof the goods for the bodie , but for tholeof the foule he often ftands vpon aForfitan, being careleflè whether he haue them or no. It is our dayly petition, that God would giuevsthe daylybread of this life, buttakenot fo muchcare for that of theother.Theions ofReuben,&of Gad in pallingouer Iordan, faw certain fields that wereverle fertileand fruitful!, and thofepaftures Teeminggoodvnto them fortheir flockes,befought t.ílofes and the Princes ofthe people that they might haue the poffeffronof them ; fooling thedefire oftheirpromifed Land. In like manner the!inner will be well content, totake forhis inheritanceand polfeflìon, the forbidden fieldsof thehumane delights of this world,and forgoethedelire oftholethat areheauenly anddiuine. 1f thou kneweft thegift ofGod. When therich denies the poo, e acapof cold water, amorfell of bread,an old fhirt,or the like, a man may fayvnto him, Stfci res donumDei, If thou didft but knowwhat thou denieft, and to whom thou denieft ; Now thou doollnot know fomuch,neither doollthou thinkefò much, but the time will cone when God (hall fay vntothee, Thou faweft mee hungry, and gaueftmenot toeat ; 7oEach ae werewearie thou hafl notgiuenwater todrinke; & haft withdrawn bread from the hungrie.A Cauallerocomes into the Church, kneelingvpon one knee, likea fowler when hemakes a fhoot at afowle, carting his eye on euery fideof theChurch, yowling them this wayand that way ; O ! if thou didPt but knowwhorne thouadorel}, orif thou couldit butfee the reue- rence wherwith the AngelsRand in Godsprefence!The Merchant,he wil (wear and forfweare for hiscommoditie ; The Souldier, heewill turne Turke vpon point either ofprofir,or ofhonor ; The Gamefter vpon euery badcaft,or euery little hard carding, will curie and blafpheme;O ! ifthoudidit but knowwholè name thou takelt invaine in that foulemouthof thine, orthat thouwouldit but confider whom thoublafphemeft,&e. Lord, thou haft net wherewithtodraw,andtheWellit deepe. There is not anyHi- ftorie that can more indeere thegreat reckoningthat Godmakes ofa foule,than to feehow.our Sauiour Chriftdoth here fuffer,andinduretheignorances ofthis vile foolit'll woman. Doe butweigh & confider the Maiefty which God doth in- ioy inHeauen,not as he is in himfelfe,for Mans imagination is but a thimble-ful incomparifonofthe incomprehenfiblenefte thereof: but asthe Scripture paints him fourth vnto vs. Daniellreckons vphis pages bythoufands, his feruantsby hundredsof thoufands, the HeauenofHeauens (fayth Salomon) are ftraight and narrowPallaces forhis dwelling, Ex.celfor Ctelo eft ; Thewheeles ofhis Caroch are thewingsof the Cherubins. After that lobhad fpent manyChapters inex- preffinghis power,and relatinghis famous Aéts beeaddeth omnia hocexparte ddlafins viaramcimr. We heare little,andweeknow leWe ; But if God fhould thunder out his greatneffe, who were able to abide it ,2.tirpoterit f flinere ? But that this God,onely Good,onely Holy,onely Mightie,onely Mercifull,and onely Infinite,fhould entertain talke fo longwithapoore filly woman, beeing fo lewda creature,and of fo euilla life,fhowes what awonderfull great louehe beareth 403 195.2 z. ;.Xeg. S. a.Ci+ron,a.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=