· [ontemplations. LIB. XIX. Elitha raifing the Iron; blinding the dffiriam. riere ''•asno llolleot Gtlltr.ii;wlllcnhewas gone, the Proph.etsincreafed: anIll man in the Church, but like fome lhrubby tree in aGarden whofe lhade keeps better plants fromgrowing:A blank doth better i; a roome,then an ill filling:The viewofGods juft judgements doth rather draw clients unto him, then alienate them: The Kings oflfrael A had fucceeded in Idolatry,and hate offincere Religion; yet the Prophetsmulliply: Perfecution enlargetllthe bounds ofthe Church.Thefe very tempeftuous.lhowers bringup flowers and hearbs inabundance.There woald have beenneitherfo many, B nor fo zealous Prophets inthe languifhment of peace:Befides,what marvellis it,if the immediate fucceffion oftwofuch nobleLeacfers,as Etijahand Elijba,e!lablilhed andaugmented Religion, and bred multitudesof Prophets( Rather who can marveil, upon the knowledge ofall theirmiracles,that alllfrael did not prophefie ~ It \.$a good hearing,that the Prophets want clbow-roome; out oftheir !lore, not out ofthe envy ofneighbours,orincompetencyofprovifion: Where vilion failes, the people perifh, theyare are blelli:d, where it abounds. When they found themfelvesfuaimcd, they did not prefume to carve for themfelves,but theycraved the leave,thecounfell of Elifha:Let us goe,we pray thee,unto I6rdan,and tab thence everymana beame,and let us make usaplace where wemay dwell. And he faid,Go ye. It well becomes the Sonsofthe Proph.rs,to enterprife C nothing without the allowanceoftheir Superiours. Here was a building towards, noneofthe curioufeft:[ doenotlee themmaking meanes for the procurement of fomecunning anificers,nor for the conquifitionoffome colUymarbles,& Cedars, buteverymanlhallbew, andfquare, and framehisownbeame. No nice tames were ftood upon by thefe fons ottheProphets.Their thoughtswere fixed upon the perfcaion ofafpirituall building:As an homely roofe may ferve them,fotheir own hands lhall raife it.The fingers ofthefe contemplative men did not fcome the Axe, andMallet,and Chefeii:Ir wasbetter beingthere then in obadiahs Cave; and they that dwell now contentedly under rude llickes, will not refufe the fquared ftones, and polilhed conrignations ofbetter times.They lhall be ill teachers oforhers,thu have not learned both to want,and to abound. The Mafterof this facred Society,E/ijba,isnot !lately, norau!lere: he gives not D onlypalfage to this motiii ofhis Collegiates,butaf!i!lance. [t w~s fitthe fonsofthe Prophets fhould have convenience ofdwelling, though not pomp, !not coftlinelfe. They fall to theirwork;Nomangoes Oacklyabout rhe building ofhis own houfe: Oneofthemmore regardingthe tree thenthe toole,lets falls the head ofthe Ax into the river.Poorc men ~re fenfible offmall lolfes:Hemakes his mJan to Elijha, Alas M•fter, for it was borrowtd; Had the Axe been his owe, the trouble had beenthe lclfe to forgoe it; therefore doth the mifcariage afllitl bim. becaufe it was ofa borrowed Ax.Hone!lmindes are more careful ofwbatthey haveby loane then by propriety : In lending there is a truft, which agood hem cannot difappoint without vexation.Alas poore novices ofthe Propiet,theywould be building, and were not wonh theiraxes:ifthey would give their labor,theymull borrowtheir in!lrumers. E Their wealth wasfpirituall: Outward poveity may well !land with inward riches: He is rich, not thathath the world, but that cancontemncit. Elijbaloves and cherifhesth.is ju!l limplicity;rather will hework a miracle,than a borrowed axe lhall not be re!lorcd: It might eafily be imagined, he that could raife up the iron out ofthe bottome ofthe water, could tell where it fell in; yet even that powerfuU bandcalls for diretlion: In this one poim,the fonne ofthe Prophet koowesmore then Elijha: The notice ofparticularities is neither fit for a creature, nor communicab le: ameane man may bell know his owncafe:ThisNovice better knowes where hisax fell,then his mafier:his ma!ler knowes betterhow toget itout,then he. Tliere is norealon to be given of fupernaturall atlions. The Prophet
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