This confutes those that for weighty matters, of some moment, they will hold their hands at least; but for small things that they think a man shall not be much the worse for, they give liberty not to their hearts only but also to their hands, and then they say, Oh, this is nothing pray God we may never do worse indeed it were well that we should never do worse, but it is not well that one doth so ill, for if he do no worse but do this still, this brings him under the curse and will certainly bring him to greater matters; for if a spark be long unquenched it will bring a flame, and he that will disobey God for a little, will disobey him more for a great deal, and he that makes no bones of corrupting his conscience for a penny or half penny, he will be more audacious for a pound. And though the matter be small, in which one offends, yet it is not a small matter, nor a little thing to offend against God, it is a small thing, but it is some thing, and God will not allow it in any thing. He can spare it, but god will not spare it, so that thou shouldest take it with sin against his law. Therefore the use that we must make, is to pray God to give us such a contented heart, and so to like our one estate, as that we may covet nothing that belongs not to us. That we shall obtain if we get a firm and true faith in Gods providence, and his promises. For if one be persuaded firmly that God hath appointed him this house, this wife, this servant, then we shall be content, for we must needs yield that Gods ways be better then ours, that his decree is most just in it self and also best for us if we be his. Also one must have faith in ⟨image 198⟩Gods promises, for when one sees no help for him in any but himself, and is not resolved that God will provide for him, and see that he shall lack nothing then original sin will lay about it, and seek to provide for it self, and lay about with wishing and desiring Oh, that this, or that, or the other thing, &c. Then I should be well. But if one rest on Gods promises, that hath promised he shall want no good thing that fears him, and that he will be a sun and a shield unto the righteous man; this will breed such contentment, and such resting on Gods provision as that one shall not be troubled, with these idle thoughts and wishes, for that is none of ours. And thus much for the negative part of this commandment.
This confutes those that for weightie matters, of some moment, they will hold their hands at least; but for small things that they thinke a man shall not be much the worse for, they giue libertie not to their hearts only but also to their hands, and then they say, Oh, this is nothing pray God we may neuer doe worse indeede it were well that we should neuer doe worse, but it is not well that one doth so ill, for if he doe no worse but doe this still, this brings him vnder the curse and will certainly bring him to greater matters; for if a sparke be lōg vnquencht it will bring a flāe, and he that will disobey God for a little, will disobey him more for a great deale, and he that makes no bones of corrupting his conscience for a penny or halfe pennie, he will be more audacious for a pound. And though the matter be small, in which one offends, yet it is not a small matter, nor a little thing to offend against God, it is a small thing, but it is some thing, and God will not allow it in any thing. He can spare it, but god will not spare it, so that thou shouldest take it with sin against his law. Therefore the vse that we must make, is to pray God to giue vs such a contented heart, and so to like our one estate, as that we may couet nothing that belongs not to vs. That we shall obtaine if we get a firme and true faith in Gods prouidencence, and his promises. For if one be perswaded firmely that God hath appointed him this house, this wife, this seruant, then we shall be content, for we must needes yeelde that Gods waies be better then ours, that his decree is most iust in it selfe and also best for vs if we be his. Also one must haue faith in ⟨image 198⟩Gods promises, for when one sees no helpe for him in any but himselfe, and is not resolued that God will prouide for him, and see that he shall lacke nothing then originall sin will lay about it, and seeke to prouide for it selfe, and lay about with wishng and desiring Oh, that this, or that, or the other thing, &c. Then I should be well. But if one rest on Gods promises, that hath promised he shall want no good thing that feares him, and that he will be a sun and a sheilde vnto the righteous man; this will breede such contentment, and such resting on Gods prouision as that one shall not be troubled, with these idle thoughts and wishes, for that is none of ours. And thus much for the negatiue part of this commandement.
