upon the Epiflle of J A M 11 s. Vuu.t;. but Pfalms to refretb the fpidt. Merry men are wont to cht~nt to the found fJf the Viol, Amos 6. Nature needeth not to be prelfc:d to that; therefore quefiionlefs he is to be underfiood of theduty · of finging. . There are many pratlical Notes and Inferences deducible from this Verfe. . J .Our temporal condition is variom ttnd diver(e; now ajfiiCled, Obfervttt. x: and then merry: ~ ris the folly of our thoughts, that we cannot be happy, but we think our nefi: is among the Stars: Mans btft eftate is altogether vanity, Pjal. 39· ·Our profperity is like glafs., brittle whenfoining. The complaint of the Church may ·be .the mottoof all the children of God ; P[al. I 02. J.o. Thou haft lifted me up, and cap me dolfln : The Churches Name (as I faid) is t~~JfliCled and tojJed \\1itl5te'!'Peft, lf"'i· -54· 10. z. This is the perfe[iion ofChriflianity, to carry n,n tqut~l piom Ob{rrv~tt. i. minde in unequal conditions. 'Paul had learned to walk np-hiU and down-hill with the fame fpirit and pace; I k._now both how tt1 be abafed, and how to abound, Pkilip. 4o 12. The Prophet faith of Ephraim~ that he was al'a ·c~tf<! not turned, flgfea 7· verf. 8. baked of one fide, but dough of the other. Mofr men are fit but for one condition: Some cannot carry a full cup with- . out fpilling; Others cannot bear a full load withont break- · , ing : Sudden alterations perplex both Body and Minde; ~ris the mighty Power of Grace to keep the Soul in an equal temper. 3• Se7.1eral conditions rtljUirt fevera/ duties: The Chrifl:ian 0/Jforvttt." , Converfation is like a Wheel, every Spoak taketh its turn ; God ' bath planted in a man affectionsfor every condition, grace for every affeElion, and adury for the exercife of every grace, and a feafDn for every duty : The Children of the Lord arelik! trees plAnted bJ the rivers of Water, that hring forth their fruit in duefeafon, Pfol. I. 3· There is no time wherein God cloth not invite us to himfelf; ~tis wifdom to perform what is mofr feafonable: There is a time to encourage Truft, a At What time I am afr~tid, I Will aPfat. ~6. ~ truft in thee ; and there is a time to dejetl fecurity : inmi{erJ the duty is prayer, inprofjerity,giving of thank!. Sometimes., I confefs, thefe duties may be inverted ; we may blefs God for giving as well as tAkjng, an~ in profperity there may be great need ofprayer; but the Apoftle fpeaketh ofwhat is ordinary~at leaft hewould thew _Dddd . us,
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