David, though a Holy man, being established in his Kingdom, having subdued all his Enemies and furnished himself with wealth, he thought that his Mountain was then made so strong, that it could not be moved, that to morrow should be as yesterday, and much more abundant. But no sooner did God hide his face from him, but he 1was troubled. To show that it was not his riches and outward prosperity that made him happy, but God only. So Dan. 5. 28. Belshazzar when as he thought himself happy, being environed with his wives, Princes, and servants, when as he praised the gods of silver, and the gods of gold, abounded with all outward prosperity, and reposed his happiness in it, is accounted but a fool by Daniel, because he glorified not God, in whose hands his wealth and all his ways were, and therefore he was destroyed. These things of themselves will not continue our lives, nor yet make us happy of themselves; we take not one step of prosperity, or adversity, but Gods hand doth lead us. My brethren that hear me this day, that have heretofore thought, that if you had such ⟨p. 5⟩an estate, such learning, such ornaments, and such friends, that then you were happy. To persuade you that it is not so, it would change your hopes and fears, your grief and joy, and make you labour to be rich in faith, and in good works. It will be very hard to persuade you to this, yet we will do what we can to persuade you, and add certain reasons, which may persuade you to believe it to be so; if God shall add a blessing to them that join the operation of his Spirit with them to persuade you. First 2this must needs be so, in regard of Gods all-sufficiency, he alone is able to comfort without the Creatures help, else there were an insufficiency, and narrowness in him, and so then he should not be God, if he could not fill our desires every way, even as the Sun should be defective, if it needed the help of Torches to give light. God is blessed not only in himself, but makes us all blessed: It is the ground of all the commandments. Thou shalt love and worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. We must love him with all our hearts, with all our souls; Let not the Creature have any jot of them, because all comfort is from God, Gen 17. 1.
David, though a Holy man, being established in his Kingdome, having subdued all his Enemies and furnished himselfe with wealth, hee thought that his Mountaine was then made so strong, that it could not be moved, that to morrow should bee as yesterday, and much more aboundant. But no sooner did God hide his face from him, but hee 1was troubled. To shew that it was not his riches and outward prosperitie that made him happy, but God onely. So Dan. 5. 28. Belshazzer when as hee thought himselfe happy, being inuironed with his wives, Princes, and servants, when as hee praised the gods of silver, and the gods of gold, abounded with all outward prosperitie, and reposed his happinesse in it, is accompted but a foole by Daniel, because he glorified not God, in whose hands his wealth and all his wayes were, and therefore he was destroyed. These things of themselves will not continue our lives, nor yet make us happy of themselves; wee take not one step of prosperitie, or adversity, but Gods hand doth lead us. My brethren that heare mee this day, that have heretofore thought, that if you had such ⟨p. 5⟩an estate, such learning, such ornaments, and such friends, that then you were happy. To perswade you that it is not so, it would change your hopes and feares, your griefe and joy, and make you labour to be rich in faith, and in good workes. It will be very hard to perswade you to this, yet we will doe what we can to perswade you, and adde certaine reasons, which may perswade you to beleeve it to bee so; if God shall adde a blessing to them that joyne the operation of his Spirit with them to perswade you. First 2this must needes be so, in regard of Gods all-sufficiencie, he alone is able to comfort without the Creatures helpe, else there were an insufficiencie, and narrownesse in him, and so then he should not be God, if he could not fill our desires every way, even as the Sunne should be defective, if it needed the helpe of Torches to give light. God is blessed not onely in himselfe, but makes us all blessed: It is the ground of all the commandements. Thou shalt love and worship the Lord thy God, and him onely shalt thou serue. Wee must love him with all our hearts, with all our soules; Let not the Creature have any jot of them, because all comfort is from God, Gen 17. 1.
- 1Psal. 307.
- 21 Reason.
