The new covenantThe nevv covenant

So likewise he poured forth his wrath by the hands of Shishak; and, as David expresseth it in his own case, God hath bidden Shimei curse David. So it is in many other places. Therefore let not men sit down discouraged, vexing themselves, and eating up their hearts with grief. Let not men say, If such an accident had not been, I had prevailed; for, it is this time and chance, that turns the event of businesses, which is from the Lord, and not from man. Therefore labour to be thankful ⟨p. 100⟩to him in the best success, and not to sacrifice to your own wits, or to give him thanks in a formal manner, but heartily to acknowledge him; And likewise to be patient in all the cros•es and troubles that befall us. So much for this third use.

So likewise he poured forth his wrath by the hands of Shishak; and, as David expresseth it in his owne case, God hath bidden Shemei curse David. So it is in many other places. Therefore let not men sit downe discouraged, vexing themselues, and eating vp their hearts with griefe. Let not men say, If such an accident had not beene, I had prevailed; for, it is this time and chance, that turnes the event of businesses, which is from the Lord, and not from man. Therefore labour to be thankfull ⟨p. 100⟩to him in the best successe, and not to sacrifice to your owne wits, or to giue him thankes in a formall manner, but heartily to acknowledge him; And likewise to be patient in all the cros•es and troubles that befall vs. So much for this third vse.

Fourthly,¹ and lastly; If men of the greatest abilities be so often disappointed,² that the battle is not to the strong, nor the race to the swift, &c. Then learn we hence, not to make flesh our arm, not to trust in any strength of our own, in any wisdom of our own, or other mens; for if this would do it, if the strength of any man, if the policy of any man were able to bring any enterprise to pass, it would always do it; If it were the swiftness of him that runs, that could get the race, If it were the strength of him that fighteth, that could obtain the battle. I say, it would always do it: And therefore seeing it falls not out so, but the events are turned a contrary way, that is a sign it is not in them, but in something else. Therefore, I say, take we heed of making flesh our arm, of saying thus with our selves, because we have these preparations, because we have these means, therefore our work shall succeed: for that is not so; for we see often in experience, when a man comes to a business with much confidence, out of a reflection upon his own ability to do it, for the most part it succeeds ill: As on the other side, when a man comes with fear and diffidence in himself, for the most part he prospereth best. And you have a rule for it,