1I answer, that it is true, that they are blessings, and the reward of the fear of GOD. Prov. 22.4. By humility and the fear of the Lord, are Riches and Honour. Therefore it is said of David, that He died full of Riches. 2Abraham's servant reckoned them as a blessing. Gen. 24.35. The Lord hath blessed my Master greatly and he is become great, and he hath given him Flocks, and Herds, and Silver, and Gold, and Men-servants, and Maid-servants, and Camels and Asses: Jacob counted them as ⟨p. 36⟩blessings, Gen. 32.10. And Christ himself saith,3 That it is more blessed to lend than to borrow, to give than to receive; may we not then desire them? To answer this, ye must know, that there is a twofold will and desire. First, a remiss will, which is rather an inclination than a will. Secondly, there is a peremptory will, which is mature ripe and peremptory: with this latter will we may not desire them, but with the former we may; for in the 1 Tim. 6.8. If we have food and raiment, let us therewith be content: If any man have a desire to be rich; yet having food and raiment let him not so desire more riches; but that he may be content with it; yea having, or having them not, ye must be content. Now there is a double content; the first is, as when a man is sick (to express it by a similitude) yet he may pray for health, and use means to get it with a full and perfect will, yet with a depending on Gods will: so we being in want may desire riches and wealth with a full will, sitting in the mean time under Gods hand, and referring and submitting our wills to his will. Secondly, there is a content, whereby having sufficient for food and raiment we suffer not our wills actually to desire more, nor to go beyond the limits which God hath set us. God hath promised outward blessings as a reward of his service, and propoundeth them to us, as so many arguments and motives to stir us ⟨p. 37⟩up to fear him: and therefore we may desire them as his blessings, with such a remiss and subordinate desire as this; when as we set bounds and limits to the sea of our own desires which are in themselves turbulent, and submit our selves wholly to Gods will. Christ being to die had a will to live, yet not a full and resolute will, but a will subordinate to Gods Will. Father if thou wilt, 4let this Cup pass from me, yet not my Will but thine be done:
1I answer, that it is true, that they are blessings, and the reward of the feare of GOD. Prov. 22.4. By humility and the feare of the Lord, are Riches and Honour. Therefore it is said of David, that Hee died full of Riches. 2Abrahams servant reckoned them as a blessing. Gen. 24.35. The Lord hath blessed my Master greatly and he is become great, and hee hath given him Flockes, and Heards, and Silver, and Gold, and Men-servants, and Maid-servants, and Camels and Asses: Iacob counted them as ⟨p. 36⟩blessings, Gen. 32.10. And Christ himselfe saith,3 That it is more blessed to lend than to borrow, to give than to receive; may wee not then desire them? To answer this, yee must know, that there is a twofold will and desire. First, a remisse will, which is rather an inclination than a will. Secondly, there is a peremptory will, which is mature ripe and peremptory: with this latter will wee may not desire them, but with the former we may; for in the 1 Tim. 6.8. If we have food and rayment, let us therewith be content: If any man have a desire to be rich; yet having food and rayment let him not so desire more riches; but that hee may be content with it; yea having, or having them not, ye must be content. Now there is a double content; the first is, as when a man is sicke (to expresse it by a similitude) yet he may pray for health, and use meanes to get it with a full and perfect will, yet with a depending on Gods will: so we being in want may desire riches and wealth with a full will, sitting in the meane time under Gods hand, and referring and submitting our wills to his will. Secondly, there is a content, whereby having sufficient for food and rayment wee suffer not our wills actually to desire more, nor to goe beyond the limits which God hath set us. God hath promised outward blessings as a reward of his service, and propoundeth them to us, as so many arguments and motives to stirre us ⟨p. 37⟩up to feare him: and therefore wee may desire them as his blessings, with such a remisse and subordinate desire as this; when as we set bounds and limits to the sea of our own desires which are in themselves turbulent, and submit our selves wholly to Gods will. Christ being to die had a will to live, yet not a full and resolute will, but a will subordinate to Gods Will. Father if thou wilt,
- 1Answ.
- 21 Chro. 29.28
- 3Acts 20.35.
- 4Mat. 26.39.
