A09411:198
An exposition of the Symbol or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenor…An exposition of the Symbole or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenour…
An exposition of the Symbol or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenor of the Scriptures, and the consent of orthodox Fathers of the Church. By William Perkins.An exposition of the Symbole or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenour of the Scriptures, and the consent of orthodoxe Fathers of the Church. By William Perkins.
Cambridge: printed by John Legatt, 1595Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legatt, 1595
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Again, when a man is stored with riches, honour, wealth, and prosperity, he must not barely look on them, but behold withal Gods goodness and blessing in them: for if that be wanting, all the riches in the world are nothing. Likewise in receiving thy meat and drink thou must look further into the blessing of God upon it: which if it be away, thy meat and thy drink can no more nourish thee then the stone in the wall. And the same must we do in every business of our callings: which if men could learn to practise they would not so much trust to the means, as honour, wealth, favour, &c. but to God himself. The Lord by the Prophet Habakkuk reproveth the Chaldeans for offering sacrifices unto their nets: which sin they committed, because they looked only upon outward things:1 & like blind moles had no power to see further into them, and to behold the work of God in all their proceedings. And this is the very cause why we are unthankful for Gods benefits: for though we behold the bare creatures, yet are we so pore-blind that we can not discern any blessing and providence of God in them. Therefore let us learn to look upon both jointly together, and so shall we be thankful unto god in prosperity, and patient in adversity with Job and David. This lesson Paul learned: I can ⟨p. 102⟩be abased (saith he) and I can abound every where, in all things I am instructed, 2both to be full, and to be hungry: and to abound, and to be in want.
Againe, when a man is stored vvith riches, honour, wealth, and prosperitie, he must not barely looke on them, but behold withall Gods goodnesse and blessing in them: for if that be wanting, all the riches in the world are nothing. Likewise in receiuing thy meate and drinke thou must looke further into the blessing of God upon it: which if it be away, thy meate and thy drinke can no more nourish thee then the stone in the wall. And the same must we doe in euery businesse of our callings: which if men coulde learne to practise they woulde not so much t•ust to the meanes, as honour, vvealth, fauour, &c. but to God himselfe. The Lord by the Prophet Habaccuc reprooueth the Chaldeans for offering sacrifices unto their nets: which sinne they committed, because they looked onely vpon outward things: