And as we say for grace, so like wise for gifts, smaller gifts, meaner gifts may serve the turn, 1many times, as well as greater gifts: for, you know, a little finger, a small hand may serve to thread a needle, as well as a greater, and, it may 2be, will do it better; for, in the Church there are varieties of operations, and variety of functions, and meaner gifts may serve for the discharge of some operations, of some services for the Church, as well as greater. And therefore, as there are variety of functions, so there are variety of members, some stronger, some weaker, and the weaker may serve, in some cases, as well as the stronger; a little bark may do better in a small river, then a greater ship; so a man that ⟨p. 69⟩3hath but mean gifts may serve mean capacities, as well as greater, and better: and therefore think not that things are denied. when the thing is granted, not in such a measure. And lastly, to be faithful in a little gift will bring as great a reward, as to be faithful in greater: thou hast been faithful in little, may make a man ruler over much, and may bring a great increase of the talents after. Therefore let not a man be discouraged, if he have not so great a measure as others have: so likewise if a man desire patience, and strength to go through all variety of conditions, 4through all the troubles he meets with: sometimes the Lord lays a great burden. upon a mans shoulders, and gives him great strength to bear it; sometimes again he gives but a little 5strength, but then he proportions the burden to it; and is it not all one, whether the burden be great, and the strength answerable, or the burden be less, and the strength little? sometimes he takes away calamity, sometimes he lays it upon a man, and gives him as much strength as will bear it, and that is as good, as if it were removed; else, what is the meaning of that, you shall have an hundred fold with persecution, but that you shall have so much joy, and strength in persecution, that it shall be all one as if you wanted it? so we see Heb. 5. 7. when Christ 6prayed for deliverance, in that great hour of trial, the text saith, he was heard in the things he feared, and yet, we see, the cup did not pass from him, because he was strengthened to bear it, ⟨p. 70⟩and so it is in this case;
And as we say for grace, so like wise for gifts, smaller gifts, meaner gifts may serue the turne, 1many times, as well as greater gifts: for, you know, a little finger, a small hand may serue to thread a needle, as well as a greater, and, it may 2be, will doe it better; for, in the Church there are varieties of operations, and variety of functions, and meaner gifts may serue for the discharge of some operations, of some services for the Church, as well as greater. And therefore, as there are variety of functions, so there are variety of members, some stronger, some weaker, and the weaker may serue, in some cases, as well as the stronger; a little barke may doe better in a small river, then a greater ship; so a man that ⟨p. 69⟩3hath but meane gifts may serue meane capacities, as well as greater, and better: and therefore thinke not that things are denied. when the thing is granted, not in such a measure. And lastly, to bee faithfull in a little gift will bring as great a reward, as to be faithfull in greater: thou hast beene faithfull in little, may make a man ruler over much, and may bring a great increase of the talents after. Therefore let not a man be discouraged, if he haue not so great a measure as others haue: so likewise if a man desire patience, and strength to goe through all variety of conditions, 4through all the troubles hee meetes with: sometimes the Lord layes a great burthen. vpon a mans shoulders, and giues him great strength to beare it; sometimes againe he giues but a little 5strength, but then hee proportions the burthen to it; and is it not all one, whether the burthen be great, and the strength answerable, or the burthen be lesse, and the strength little? sometimes he takes away calamity, sometimes he layes it vpon a man, and giues him as much strength as will beare it, and that is as good, as if it were removed; else, what is the meaning of that, you shall haue an hundred fold with persecution, but that you shall haue so much ioy, and strength in persecution, that it shall be all one as if you wanted it? so we see Heb. 5. 7. when Christ 6prayed for deliverance, in that great houre of triall, the text saith, he was heard in the things hee feared, and yet, we see, the cup did not passe from him, because hee was strengthened to beare it,
- 13 Instance in gifts.
- 2Simile.
- 3Simile.
- 44 Instance, in crosses, and afflictions.
- 5Simile.
- 6Heb: 5. 7.
